Improvements in gender occupational roles Occupational Distribution by Gender in 2007 and that of Distribution of Persons by Occupational Group (per cent) show a marked improvement in women’s participation in more lucrative occupations compared with 2006 when the ratio of participation of men and women in the formal sector was 87 per cent to 11 per cent (NGP, 2007). Figure 8.1 Distribution of Workers in Major Occupations by Sex, 2007 Key Challenges Despite the progress being made in terms of changing gender roles and stereotypes, a lot of challenges still persist. The following challenges still need to be tackled:  Religion —lack of proper interpretation of religious texts and the quoting of religion as an alibi for certain stereotypes and religious practices.   Culture and Traditional practices. Legislature —there is still a general lack of awareness and enforcement of existing laws and a slow response to change by law enforcement officers. 159