Senegalese women want better work.

Although religion and culture do not permit working in bars, many young women in Senegal are being forced to work in bars due to economic necessity. Voice of America looks at the story of two women that are trying to make it out of the bar scene.

Estimates for the unemployment rate for Senegal range between 40 and 60 percent. Many high school and even college graduates cannot find jobs in the formal sector.
Based on current population trends, the International Labor Office estimates that by the year 2015, the number of young people will grow by 30 million in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Which may mean less choices for many youth like Mya, who will not settle for just any job.
“It is hard for me to find a job if I have conditions or standards. Perhaps I am too demanding,” she says.
As a Muslim, Astou has second thoughts about working where she does.
“Religion does not permit us to work in places like discotechs and bars,” she says, ” but we do this because we do not have other things to do. If I had another job, I would not continue to do this. I do not have a choice.”
She adds one final reason for staying in her job. She says she makes very good money.

Economic necessity forces women into all types of work they are not happy with. Women aren’t “opting out” they are systematically being left out of global capital flow and not being given the jobs they deserve. The situation intensifies in places where the economy has less room for advancement.
via VOA.