Feminisation of Poverty, Gender Violence and Commoditization of Women in East African Countries: An Anthropological Appraisal

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Feminisation of poverty and trafficking of women are serious threats to women empowerment in Ethiopia. The growing sex trade interlinked with multiplication of out migration of women labour force from Ethiopia is a serious global issue since last couple of decades. The social scientists have concluded that multiplication of trafficking of women in Ethiopia is closely interlinked with patriarchal social system. This paper has drawn inputs from rigorous content analysis and review of research articles published in different journals on this thematic area. Utmost priority is given on critical analysis of contents and inputs of these studies in responding to research questions and validating the key research hypothesis adopted for the study. Patriarchal social set-up coupled with limited economic opportunities and social deprivations among rural women of Ethiopia tend to promote socio-cultural milieu for being trafficked. The feminisation of poverty is the key contributing factor towards growing trafficking of women and increasing gender violence in rural Ethiopia. The diminishing access to education, employment opportunities and empowerment are positively correlated with enhanced outflow of women being trafficked to Middle East countries annually for the last couple of decades. The poverty, gender violence, patriarchal social norms, absence of policy enforcement, practice of child marriage, ethnic diversity, negative cultural practices and ignorance about trafficking are the key stimulating socio-cultural determinants of trafficking. Expanding educational opportunities for women along with creation of employment avenues, higher ethnic status and birth order of girl are mitigating or protective socio-cultural factors for preventing trafficking. The conclusions cover wide range of recommendations to address policy gap and promote empowerment of women as a viable alternative for mitigating trafficking.