Tanzania gained independence from Britain in 1961, and established itself as a one-party presidential republic. In the country’s current constitution, drafted in 1977, it declares, “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled, without any discrimination, to protection and equality before the law…the expression ‘discriminate’ means to satisfy the needs, rights or other requirements of different persons on the basis of their nationality, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, color, religion, sex or station in life such that certain categories of people are regarded as weak or inferior and are subjected to restrictions or conditions whereas persons of other categories are treated differently or are accorded opportunities or advantage outside the specified conditions.…” Tanzania ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1986, and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol in 2003. In 1995, the government developed its National Development Vision 2025, which among other goals aims to achieve “Gender equality and the empowerment of women in all socio-economic and political relations and cultures by 2025.” A 2010 electoral law made it mandatory for women to make up no less than 30 percent of parliamentary seats, and today 37 percent of parliament is female. Samia Suluhu Hassan became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021, and is currently one of only two female heads of state in Africa, alongside President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. Despite some forward progress, discrimination continues to hinder the advancements of women’s rights in Tanzania. According to a 2022 World Bank report, 40 percent of women in Tanzania, aged 15-49, have experienced physical violence, and 17 percent have suffered from sexual violence. Even more staggering is that approximately 30 percent of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18. In 1971, The Law of Marriage Act was passed which set the minimum age of marriage at 15 for girls and 18 for boys. Though the High Court ruled in 2016 that the minimum age for girls was unconstitutional, this reform is still awaiting action. According to the 2021 Global Gender Gap Report, Tanzania ranks 127th out of 156 countries in educational attainment, and women in the country are 29 percent less likely to have the same opportunities in the workforce as men. Fortunately, the country has grassroots feminist organizations like, the Tanzania Women Empowerment in Action, the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association, Hope for Girls and Women, and Dare Women’s Foundation who are leading the fight in ending child marriage while providing economic and educational opportunities for women across the country.

As a society rooted in patriarchy, Tanzania’s cultural barriers have historically prevented women from participating in sports. With limited governmental support and investment, women and girls have had to rely on grassroots programming like the Women Sports Initiatives to provide sporting opportunities. Moreover, women are having to contend with gender stereotyping and blatant misogyny even from the country’s female president. In 2021 at a ceremony for the men’s soccer team, President Suluhu made sexist, derogatory comments about the women’s soccer team all while ironically advocating for more financial investment in the women’s game. Despite these setbacks, Tanzania’s female athletes have made an immense impact on the world’s stage. The country’s first international medal was won by javelin thrower, Theresa Dismas, when she won silver at the 1965 African Games. Distance running has a substantial tradition in Tanzania, and one of the most decorated athletes in the country’s history is runner, Restituta Joseph Kemi, who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, and was the country’s flag-bearer during opening ceremonies of both Games. The national soccer team, nicknamed the Twiga Stars, qualified for the Africa Women Cup of Nations in 2010, and the All-Africa Games in 2011 and 2015.