Musoma, Mara — During a recent youth dialogue that took place in Majita Road, Kaminyonge ward, a sharp divide emerged in how young men and women perceive each other’s work ethic. 

Young women boldly asserted that they are the primary economic drivers in their community, while accusing their male counterparts of preferring leisure over labour.

The session, recorded on May 1, 2026, and published on May 22, was the seventh episode of the Dira Mtaani: Vijana Wanasemaje programme. 

Organised by The Chanzo and Twaweza East Africa, the dialogue brought together 16 young people aged between 16 and 25 to discuss their aspirations and challenges.

The debate ignited when Thelesia Mwamenti, a young female participant, bluntly stated that women in the Mara region are harderworking than men. “If you look at the Mara region, women are the ones who engage in work more than men,” she declared.

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“Women are the ones selling dagaa (sardines), while men are playing draughts,” Mwamenti continued. “So we women in the Mara region are the greater fighters.”

Defences

The accusation immediately drew defensive responses from the young men present. They argued that the perception of male laziness is a misunderstanding of their work patterns and the limited opportunities available to them.

“That is her perspective, and she is looking at someone who doesn’t like work,” countered one young man. “It’s not true. Perhaps when she is working, we are also working, and you know, in life, without games, things cannot be right.”

Another male participant argued that men in the Mara region are known for their hard work, suggesting that those seen playing games are simply on their breaks. 

“If you see someone holding a draft board, know that they have already finished their daily responsibilities,” he explained. “They are fresh, or on leave, or have set aside time for rest.”

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However, other female participants supported Mwamenti’s observation. Sofia Sonati noted that while not all men are lazy, a significant number prefer to sit idle and ask for handouts. 

“They don’t want to work or engage themselves,” she said. “They want to sit, and when women pass by, they say, ‘Sister, help me with six hundred, help me with a thousand.’”

Broader trends

The debate in Musoma reflects broader national trends regarding gender and employment in Tanzania. According to a UN Women Gender Profile, women in mainland Tanzania spend three times more time in unpaid care work than men.

Furthermore, International Labour Organisation data indicate that more women than men are exposed to informal sector employment. 

In communities like Musoma, this often translates to women dominating small-scale trading, such as selling fish and vegetables, which requires long hours of visible public work.

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The young men in the dialogue pointed out that their employment options are severely restricted. They noted that the primary opportunities for young men in Musoma are either driving boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis) or fishing in Lake Victoria.

“You cannot take a young man from here and tell him to go to the lake,” one young woman explained, noting that some youth consider themselves too bishoo (fashionable) for such gruelling work. 

Young men also said that even opportunities in the boda-boda business have dried up, because there are now more motorcycle taxis than passengers themselves.

“There is some truth to the accusations against us [young men] that we prefer to be taken care of by women,” one young male participant admitted. 

“Life is hard, there are no opportunities, and women are indeed much more industrious than we are.”

Survival 

The discussion ultimately highlighted how the lack of formal employment forces both men and women into precarious survival strategies. 

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While women may be more visible in street-level trading, both genders are struggling to navigate an economy with few formal opportunities.

One participant noted that the pressure to work often depends on family responsibilities. 

“You might find someone is a single mother with five children,” he observed. “If she doesn’t push herself, what will happen to those children? It forces her to fight.”