Gender relations, roles and rights have many and complex influences in Malawi. Influences range from the ancient and traditional, up to modern influences from 'western' cultures, and a significant input from religions in between. The problems which have been created all stem from women having lower status in Malawian society. Specific problems include:

• women are put at risk of STDs and HIV and AIDS as it is socially acceptable for their husbands to have multiple mistresses
• women are put at risk of STDs and HIV and AIDS as it is not socially acceptable for a woman to demand safer sexual practices from her partner
• women are overlooked for well paid jobs as they are thought of as inferior to men
• girls given lower priority for education than their brothers, so the girls may be taken out of education early to enable the family to pay for the boys to go to school
• women suffer from lack of emotional support as they are discouraged from socialising - during the day they are expected to tend to the household chores and in the evening they must stay in and look after the children - if they visit bars in the evening they are labeled 'prostitutes' and will be at risk of being accosted all night, or worse...
• men do not pull their weight in the household chores, even if they have no job and have plenty of time - household work is "womens' work"
• women are not able to earn a decent wage, and so must rely on their husbands to provide them with money - hence women are often unable to leave a bad husband as that would mean economic destitution for her and her children. The same issue can lead to women (and their children) being punished by the husband withholding money from her if she displeases him in any way.