Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Origins and Persistence of Gender Roles in Ethiopia: A micro-level analysis of the effects of traditional farming systems on modern gender roles.

Lehmann, Karolin Heike LU (2022) EKHS22 20221
Department of Economic History
Abstract
Perceptions of where the “natural” place for women is, vary considerably across societies. This is especially true in heterogeneous countries like Ethiopia, where stark variations between ethnicities and their attitudes towards gender roles exist. A much-debated question is how these differences emerge. Some research suggests that gender roles originated from traditional agricultural practices whereas others argue that they stem from variations in settlement patterns, language, religion, or geography. Through empirical analysis, this thesis reviews the possible origins of gender roles and explores the nexus between ancestral farming systems and modern gender roles of 22 Ethiopian ethnicities. Connecting the Ethnographic Atlas and the... (More)
Perceptions of where the “natural” place for women is, vary considerably across societies. This is especially true in heterogeneous countries like Ethiopia, where stark variations between ethnicities and their attitudes towards gender roles exist. A much-debated question is how these differences emerge. Some research suggests that gender roles originated from traditional agricultural practices whereas others argue that they stem from variations in settlement patterns, language, religion, or geography. Through empirical analysis, this thesis reviews the possible origins of gender roles and explores the nexus between ancestral farming systems and modern gender roles of 22 Ethiopian ethnicities. Connecting the Ethnographic Atlas and the Demographic Health Survey, this study creates a long-term perspective on the origins of gender roles and their persistence. The findings suggest that there is a persistent, causal relationship between traditional plough usage and less equal gender roles in Ethiopia. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lehmann, Karolin Heike LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS22 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Gender Roles, Plough, Shifting Agriculture, Cultural Persistence, Ethiopia
language
English
id
9094476
date added to LUP
2022-07-11 09:26:18
date last changed
2022-07-11 09:26:18
@misc{9094476,
  abstract     = {{Perceptions of where the “natural” place for women is, vary considerably across societies. This is especially true in heterogeneous countries like Ethiopia, where stark variations between ethnicities and their attitudes towards gender roles exist. A much-debated question is how these differences emerge. Some research suggests that gender roles originated from traditional agricultural practices whereas others argue that they stem from variations in settlement patterns, language, religion, or geography. Through empirical analysis, this thesis reviews the possible origins of gender roles and explores the nexus between ancestral farming systems and modern gender roles of 22 Ethiopian ethnicities. Connecting the Ethnographic Atlas and the Demographic Health Survey, this study creates a long-term perspective on the origins of gender roles and their persistence. The findings suggest that there is a persistent, causal relationship between traditional plough usage and less equal gender roles in Ethiopia.}},
  author       = {{Lehmann, Karolin Heike}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Origins and Persistence of Gender Roles in Ethiopia: A micro-level analysis of the effects of traditional farming systems on modern gender roles.}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}