Building the Road They’re Walking

Part V, “Building the Road They're Walking,” examines how women are striving to safeguard their gains. Interviewees are candid about the fact that key political offices carry great symbolic weight. However, cultural norms persist, particularly within rural communities and among the older generation, and some Rwandans express reticence about the trend of expanding women's influence well beyond the home. Longtime members of Parliament, local officials, business owners, lawyers, students, and academics reflect on their visions, concerns, and plans for shaping the next chapter of this remarkable story. By enforcing gender-friendly laws, communicating their achievements back to constituents, and finding allies among males and young people, women are determined to ensure and expand their sway. This part looks in detail at the tasks that remain, the dynamics that stymie progress, and the hopeful trends that women leaders and those advocating on their behalf are nurturing, even as everyday life goes on.