Women and development in North Western Zambia: from producer to housewife

Abstract

The area of Mukunashi in Zambia is one where capitalist production relations have been but minimally introduced, but where patterns of exchange have increasingly taken a monetary form. Crehan is concerned to investigate the implications of such economic changes as have occurred for the position and role of women. In common with similar situations elsewhere, she finds that new capitalist farming units when introduced are invariably run by men who in turn appropriate any surplus accruing. Women continue to be primarily responsible for supplying family food requirements, and the burden of ‘female’ tasks as regards both time and energy prevents them moving into cash generating activities, save in the case of beer brewing. The latter is an exception largely because the operations it involves are capable of being accommodated into women's normal routine. But while women are able to earn some cash through their efforts, it is hardly sufficient to give them any economic independence.