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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Loose Women, Virtuous Wives, and Timid Virgins: Gender and the Control of Resources in Rwanda
Author:Jefremovas, Villia
Year:1991
Periodical:Canadian Journal of African Studies
Volume:25
Issue:3
Pages:378-395
Language:English
Geographic term:Rwanda
Subjects:women entrepreneurs
women
Women's Issues
Development and Technology
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Labor and Employment
Cultural Roles
Sex Roles
Status of Women
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/485975
Abstract:Women's capacity to control resources and surplus in Rwanda is extremely limited, both legally and socially. Women, however wealthy or powerful, are restricted in ways that wealthy and powerful men are not. This situation arises out of transformations in the precolonial State, and out of the experience of colonialism and the development of capitalism. It has serious implications for everyday life. Men and women hold separate responsibilities for household reproduction, but men have rights over any surplus a woman might generate. There is a struggle between men and women over access to women's surplus. At the local level, the language of public morality and stereotype is one weapon in this struggle. The stereotypes of women as loose women, virtuous wives or timid virgins are used by both men and women to interpret, manipulate, validate or negate control over labour, resources and surplus. This article discusses the relationship of gender and class in the context of Rwandan history, illustrating its impact on the daily life of three women, all three wealthy and running a brick enterprise. The study is based on research carried out in 1984 and 1985. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in French.
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