The Contemporary Kisii Household: Gender Roles, Identity and Social Value in Everyday Life.

Introduction Household Background Information Household Background Information In Kisii households an ongoing competition for and control over scarce resources In Kisii households an ongoing competition for and control over scarce resources Struggles between men and women over new roles and obligations. Struggles between men and women over new roles and obligations. This chapter This chapter Explores new social roles and value systems that have emerged for men and women Explores new social roles and value systems that have emerged for men and women Examines how new values interact with male and female identity and gender relations. Examines how new values interact with male and female identity and gender relations.

Men’s Roles Tea Picking Tea Picking Night watchmen Night watchmen Seasonal Contract Workers Seasonal Contract Workers Government Employees Government Employees Artisans Artisans Matatu Drivers Matatu Drivers Construction of Homes Construction of Homes Farmers? Farmers? Land ownership = farmer Land ownership = farmer Men sometimes clear land Men sometimes clear land Women 54%, Men 38%, Children 8% Women 54%, Men 38%, Children 8%

Women’s Roles More to do since colonial era More to do since colonial era Farming Farming Smaller plots and same tools Subsistance and cash Hybrid maize harvested twice a year. Water and fuelwood Water and fuelwood Process and cook food Process and cook food Transport, trade and sell at local markets Transport, trade and sell at local markets Buy basic necessities Buy basic necessities Sugar, salt, soap, etc.

Resource Management and Control Men own land and cattle Men own land and cattle Men have right to sell land Men have right to sell land Irresponsible Irresponsible Self vs. Household gain Self vs. Household gain

Women have potential power Control over production, reproduction, and consumption Control over production, reproduction, and consumption Men's absence give women some control over Men's absence give women some control over Land use, crop income, marketing Land use, crop income, marketing Coping strategies Coping strategies Middleman and Changaa Middleman and Changaa Withdraw direct and reproductive labor Withdraw direct and reproductive labor

Gendered Contributions to Household Both sexes agree husbands should provide wives and children with: Both sexes agree husbands should provide wives and children with: Clothing, health expenses, Clothing, health expenses, Agricultural implements and cattle Agricultural implements and cattle School fees, uniforms, books, School fees, uniforms, books, Women should provide Women should provide Food for the family Food for the family

Spousal Negotiations Men heads of households and decision makers Men heads of households and decision makers Complaining vs. Consulting Complaining vs. Consulting Women’s main reasons for quarreling include: Women’s main reasons for quarreling include: Economic neglect, laziness, lack of interest in children’s education Men’s main worries Men’s main worries Poisoning by kababa—#2 reason why women go to jail Neither spouse trusts the other Neither spouse trusts the other

Other Household Issues Alcohol consumption Alcohol consumption Men only, socially required, discuss problems Violence Against Women Corrective behavior, socially accepted, increasing, 3 reasons for beatings Psychological disorders Psychological disorders Men- inadequate, incompetent, insecure, inferior, persecuted, pressured Women- stressed about making ends meet. INSTABILITY ALCOHOL PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS VIOLENCE

Conclusions Men’s domain and social roles drastically reduced Men’s domain and social roles drastically reduced Women’s domain and independence has increased. Women’s domain and independence has increased. Precolonial: as household, man’s role not directly linked to economic responsibility Precolonial: as household, man’s role not directly linked to economic responsibility Colonial times: provider ideology emerged, with new obligations and responsibilities for men. Colonial times: provider ideology emerged, with new obligations and responsibilities for men. These new obligations were not assigned social value. These new obligations were not assigned social value.

Substantial change in need for family support challenged the ideology of separate spheres Substantial change in need for family support challenged the ideology of separate spheres Majority of men not able or prepared for these responsibilities and obligations Majority of men not able or prepared for these responsibilities and obligations Male’s command over resources seriously diminished. Affects their political power, social relationships, etc. Male’s command over resources seriously diminished. Affects their political power, social relationships, etc. Wives question deference and respect Wives question deference and respect Men’s control over women also questioned Men’s control over women also questioned