Rollerbag Goddess Global Communications

It’s not easy being a woman in Ethiopia. It’s fair to say it’s not easy being a women anywhere in the world, even in the 21st century. But slowly Ethiopian women’s options will increase, just as it’s happening in developed countries. As the Ethiopian proverb says, “Suuta suuta hanqaquun mila lama deemti (slowly the egg walks on two legs).”
   

Injera is the staple food of Ethiopia. It’s made from a grain called teff. Stews, vegetables, and meat are placed on top of the injera, then pieces are torn off and used to scoop up the food by hand. Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Bob Sturtevant.

I’m careful not judge any country where women don’t have the same gender equality that we’ve achieved in the United States. First of all, we still have a ways to go ourselves. Second, it’s only really been in the last generation that women have made the greatest strides in being equal with men. For much of known human history, women have had a lower status than men. It took the U.S. a long time to get where we are, so we shouldn’t expect the rest of the world to catch up over night just because we’ve finally achieved some long overdue successes.

Women spend a lot time carrying heavy loads of water and firewood.  This woman is carrying sugar cane to sell on the street or in the market. Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Keith Keyser.

Women help prepare for crop planting. Their home responsibilities will be waiting for them when they return. Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Keith Keyser.

Most people in Ethiopia live in rural areas (an estimated 85%) and scratch out a living as subsistence farmers. Opportunities for a better life are limited. Rural women marry young and begin life as a homemaker. Women in developed countries have more life choices – college, careers, later marriage, even no marriage. These options don’t exist in the countryside. It’s an Ethiopian woman’s pride to have children and keep the home fires burning. Here cooking, cleaning, and raising children is “woman’s work.” That phrase is offensive in the U.S., but it’s the way things work here. It works for everyone, and unless you put yourself inside a different culture, judging this situation isn’t fair. An Ethiopian friend told me that if he even set foot in the kitchen, his wife would kick him out. Not out of the kitchen, out of the house. That was probably an exaggeration, but the home is the woman’s responsibility. It’s not that men never help with household duties, but for the most part they don’t get too involved.

These women take advantage of some free time by making decorative and useful items for the home.  Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Jennifer Miller.

Girls grow up fast, caring for small siblings at a young age. Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Bob Sturtevant.

Women in urban areas have more options than in rural areas. For some, the way of life in the capital city of Addis Ababa can resemble the lifestyle we live. But this is a very small proportion of women. Most are employed in service jobs, not as lawyers, doctors, and business owners. More and more women are going to colleges and universities than ever before but unemployment makes gender advancement difficult at this time. At the teacher training college I work at, there were 422 males compared with 533 females last year. The teaching profession is definitely one area where women are becoming a presence. Most of the women end up in primary schools which holds less status, but that will change with time.

In the country, it’s often harder for girls to stay in school than boys because of their household duties. Families tend to be large with six or more children the norm. Ethiopia’s birthrate is one of the highest in the world at 5.5 children per woman. In order to keep a family that size functioning, the girls need to pitch in by collecting water and firewood, cleaning the house, preparing food, and caring for younger siblings. It’s a common sight to see small girls with babies wrapped to their backs. They can take care of small children while they’re small children themselves. Girls become young women fast. While taking on these household duties, girls have much less time than boys to study. Having said that, I’ve seen plenty of top students who are girls. It’s a testament to their strength, talent, commitment, and support from parents.

This little girl in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia was learning the ropes of shepherding. Photo by Paul Voigt.

 

Although girls have a more difficult time staying in school because of their household responsibilities, many girls excel in school. Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Daniel Thornton.

Young girls help care for the family, including cooking. Photo by Peace Corps volunteer Keith Keyser.