Women in Colonial Africa, Essay Example

Through colonialism most of the African land was taken by the colonialists, this affected the native women in that they could no longer access the land thus becoming more dependent to men. Through the colonial institutions, the male dominancy and the overall household patriarchy were intensified. For example in pre- colonial Kenya, women were the major contributor in domestic food production especially within the Kikuyu community (Veloso 1). They could easily access land and effectively exercise authority over it in terms of the kind of crops to be grown. This promoted their rights to aspects such as cultural, economic, social and economic etc as well as acknowledgement of their value and contribution in terms of productive labor (Veloso 2).

The coming of the British colonialists saw most of them settling in the fertile highlands popularly referred to as White Highlands. This made the local natives to be bundled out of these places and into congested reserves thus creating room for the settlers. Conventionally, there were areas that were designated for growing certain types of crops due to the varying soil characteristics; with the land loss, the locals especially the women were restricted to smaller parcels of land and with the excessive cultivation, the soils became exhausted and hence infertile thus hugely affected the food production. With reduced food production, the economic contribution of women in agricultural productivity declined thus making them to economically depend on men. Due to the increased colonialists pressure, the women’s’ significance in domestic agriculture was eclipsed by the more profitable male- dominance cash crop cultivation.

Colonialism also negatively affected the entire women fraternity after introducing wage employment. Women were required by the law to offer wage employment in the European “white highlands” economies farm. For example in 1919, a circular was issued by the District Officer to all African Chiefs to recruit women and other laborers for public and private labor practices. This directive affected women since they were drawn from their domestic economic activities. These labor engagements were more intensive in seasons such as harvesting periods. Mostly this cheap labor was provided mostly by children and women. This move lead to domestic conflicts as women were forced to leave their household obligations to work for the Europeans. In this labor setting women were faces with both physical and sexual abuse committed by both the settlers and fellow African men. This greatly compromised their ability to lead a healthy productive life as they earlier did (Veloso 67).

Male Africans were forced to seek labor opportunities in the European plantations; this denied them the responsibilities they had earlier in the traditional African agriculture. This in turn led to a rapid decrease in the acreage of cultivated land as women not only carried out domestic activities but also assumed the obligations earlier performed by men.

The colonial government introduced taxes which were primarily paid out by men. However, there were instances where women were forced to pay tax. For example the African males were used to make women pay tax by the British colonial government amongst the Egba community in Nigeria. Women as young as fifteen years old were required to pay some tax to this administration (Duigan 56).

With the introduction of cash crops and subsequent allowing of these crops to be grown by the native people, African men were determined to control the proceeds from the sales although the major part of work in their production was actually done by women. With the introduction of the plough, men now played a rather active role in their cultivation. This also allowed them to “justify” their increased control although the most labor intensive tasks were actually carried out by women.

When the colonialists arrived, they brought the concept of Victorian woman where a woman was to remain in the private dominion. They were to remain in the homes carrying out the domestic and household issues. This greatly eroded the woman’s status in the society. Together with the ensuing male supremacy and patriarchy, the colonialists attempted to censure women freedom and movement. Those who attempted to flee to the cities were countered by reprisals by the male dominated urban elite.

Women were also barred from assuming and taking part in the new political and economic administration system. Initially most traditional political system allowed for dual political hierarchy which allowed substantial women participation in administration and governance policy making. The colonialists are highly blamed for instilling a male chauvinism that was initially absent in the traditional community setting, thus impacting on the political power of women (Duigan 62).

African women were not ready to accept their new life which was meted by the new administration and the male supremacy. This offered an opportunity for them to recollect themselves and empower each other and move forward. This new life increased their level of awareness about their predicament (Mbaku 89). For example in Zambia, women took the advantage of the judicial system to air out their grievances through protests and mass demonstrations. Such acts of ingenuity and resilience were also used by the Aba women protested certain colonial rules. The entire community of the Taita community organized by a woman named Mekatilili wa Menza to protest against the growing influence of the British administration. In some countries, women formed associations and unions in their quest to seek unity as well as press for the declaration of independence. For example in Nigeria, women formed the British West African club in 1929 to voice out their grievances (Mbaku 103).

Works Cited

Duigan, Gan. Colonialism in Africa 1870-1960. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Mbaku, John. Political liberalization and democratization in Africa. Lagos, Nigeria: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999.

Veloso, Brian. The effect of colonialism on African women. 16 Sept. 2000. 30 Oct.2009.        <http://afrikaneye.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/the-effect-of-colonlialism-on-african-women/>.