The The Contemporary Contemporary Kisii HouseholdKisii Household

Gender Roles, Gender Roles, Identity and Identity and

Social Value in Social Value in Everyday LifeEveryday Life

IntroductionIntroductionIn Kisii households an ongoing competition In Kisii households an ongoing competition

for and control over scarce resourcesfor and control over scarce resources Struggles between men and women over Struggles between men and women over

new roles and obligationsnew roles and obligations

This chapterThis chapter Explores new social roles and value systems Explores new social roles and value systems

that have emerged for men and womenthat have emerged for men and women Examines new values and male and female Examines new values and male and female

identity and gender relationsidentity and gender relations

Men’s RolesMen’s Roles Tea PickingTea Picking Night watchmenNight watchmen Seasonal Contract WorkersSeasonal Contract Workers Government EmployeesGovernment Employees ArtisansArtisans Matatu DriversMatatu Drivers Construction of HomesConstruction of Homes Farmers?Farmers?

Land ownership = farmerLand ownership = farmer Men sometimes clear landMen sometimes clear land Women 54%, Men 38%, Women 54%, Men 38%,

Children 8%Children 8%

Male migration has mostly Male migration has mostly endedended

But they don’t view But they don’t view themselves as farmersthemselves as farmers

Men can sell land and profitsMen can sell land and profitsSome women buy land, but Some women buy land, but

it’s a sign of separationit’s a sign of separation

Women’s RolesWomen’s Roles More to do since colonial eraMore to do since colonial era Farming Farming

Smaller plots and same toolsSmaller plots and same tools Subsistance and cashSubsistance and cash Hybrid maize harvested twice Hybrid maize harvested twice

a year.a year. Water and fuelwoodWater and fuelwood Process and cook foodProcess and cook food Transport, trade and sell at Transport, trade and sell at

local marketslocal markets Buy basic necessitiesBuy basic necessities

Sugar, salt, soap, etc.Sugar, salt, soap, etc.

New Maize: 2 crops in a yearNew Maize: 2 crops in a year

Continuous cycle of land Continuous cycle of land preparation, planting and preparation, planting and

harvestingharvesting

Resource Management and Resource Management and ControlControl

Men own land and cattleMen own land and cattle Men have right to sell landMen have right to sell land

IrresponsibleIrresponsible Self vs. Household gainSelf vs. Household gain

Women have potential powerWomen have potential power

Control over production, Control over production, reproduction, and consumptionreproduction, and consumption

Men's absence give women some Men's absence give women some control overcontrol over Land use, crop income, marketing Land use, crop income, marketing

Coping strategiesCoping strategies Middleman and ChangaaMiddleman and Changaa

Withdraw direct and reproductive laborWithdraw direct and reproductive labor

Gendered Contributions to Gendered Contributions to HouseholdHousehold

Both sexes agree Both sexes agree husbands should provide husbands should provide wives and children with:wives and children with: Clothing, health Clothing, health

expenses,expenses, Agricultural implements Agricultural implements

and cattleand cattle School fees, uniforms, School fees, uniforms,

books, books,

Women should provideWomen should provide Food for the family Food for the family

Spousal Spousal NegotiationsNegotiations

Men heads of households Men heads of households and decision makersand decision makers

Women’s main reasons Women’s main reasons for quarreling include:for quarreling include: Economic neglect, laziness, Economic neglect, laziness,

lack of interest in children’s lack of interest in children’s educationeducation

Men’s main worriesMen’s main worries Poisoning by kababa—#2 Poisoning by kababa—#2

reason why women go to reason why women go to jailjail

Neither spouse trusts the Neither spouse trusts the otherother

Other Other Household Household

IssuesIssues Alcohol consumptionAlcohol consumption

Men only, socially Men only, socially required, discuss required, discuss problemsproblems

Violence Against WomenViolence Against Women Corrective behavior, Corrective behavior,

socially accepted, socially accepted, increasing, 3 reasons for increasing, 3 reasons for beatingsbeatings

Psychological disordersPsychological disorders Men- inadequate, Men- inadequate,

incompetent, insecure, incompetent, insecure, inferior, persecuted, inferior, persecuted, pressuredpressured

Women- stressed about Women- stressed about making ends meet.making ends meet.

VIOLENCE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

ALCOHOL

INSTABILITY

ConclusionsConclusions Men’s domain and social roles reducedMen’s domain and social roles reduced

Women’s domain and independence increasedWomen’s domain and independence increased

Precolonial: man’s role not directly linked to Precolonial: man’s role not directly linked to economic responsibilityeconomic responsibility

Colonial period: provider ideology emerged, with Colonial period: provider ideology emerged, with new obligations and responsibilities for men new obligations and responsibilities for men

These new obligations were not assigned social These new obligations were not assigned social valuevalue

Substantial change in need for family support Substantial change in need for family support challenged the ideology of separate sphereschallenged the ideology of separate spheres

Most men not able or prepared for these Most men not able or prepared for these responsibilities and obligationsresponsibilities and obligations

Men’s command over resources seriously Men’s command over resources seriously diminished. Affects their political power, diminished. Affects their political power, social relationships, etc. social relationships, etc.

Wives question need for deference and Wives question need for deference and

respectrespect

Men’s control over women also questionedMen’s control over women also questioned