Gender and rural economic relations: ethnography of the Nrobo of South Eastern Nigeria

What is it about?

The purpose of this study is to examine gender and rural economic relations of the Nrobo of Southeastern Nigeria. Specifically, the study was designed to examine the subsistence strategies, gendered role patterns and gender gaps in economic relations of the Nrobo. This study used ethnographic methods of participant observation – adopting chitchatting and semi-structured interviews. Also, focus group discussion (FGD) was used to cross-check the validity of data from the other instrument. This study found among other things, that although there is still verbal expression of gendered roles division, it does not mirror what actually obtains in the society, except bio-social roles. Ideological superiority of men reflects the patrilineal kinship arrangement of the society. Theoretically, some of the hypotheses of gender inequality theory were disputed for lack of adequate explanation of gender and economic relations in an egalitarian-reflected society such as Nrobo.

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Why is it important?

The study evaluates gender and rural economics with regards to access to factors of production and how it has aided social inequality among this group. Our findings suggest that there is a sharp dichotomy between the ideological and practical structure of the society. This raises doubt on some of the gender inequality hypotheses.

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