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Women in post-war Liberia. Identities, opportunities and constraints in a historical perspective

Women in post-war Liberia. Identities, opportunities and constraints in a historical perspective. Veronika Fuest Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Halle, Germany LSA 39 th Conference University of Indiana Bloomington, 24 March 2007. The issues.

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Women in post-war Liberia. Identities, opportunities and constraints in a historical perspective

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  1. Women in post-war Liberia.Identities, opportunities and constraints in a historical perspective Veronika Fuest Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Halle, Germany LSA 39th Conference University of Indiana Bloomington, 24 March 2007

  2. The issues • Formal political representation in postwar countries of Africa • ‚Affirmative action‘ by Liberia‘s president • New female identities before the elections Exploring female „gains“ during/after war historical constellations and institutional change

  3. A model of the past (north-western Liberia) • Women as labor force • Controlled by elders and husbands • Division of labor

  4. Developments since 1990 - I • New roles and skills • More responsibilities • More scope of manoeuvre • New jobs • Self-help organizations • Enrolment of girls in schools

  5. Developments since 1990 - II • Peace-making organizations • Feminist identities • Political participation at local and national levels • Contesting traditional leaders

  6. Foreign interventions and institutional change I • Proliferation of western gender discourse • Inclusive methods of training and sensitization

  7. Foreign interventions and institutional change II • Advice on gender policies and legislation • (Unintended) consequences: Increase in institutional complexity

  8. Historical Continuity • „Feminization“ of production, female-headed households • Women in leadership (informally and public office) • ‚Cultural heritage‘ of Americo-Liberian rule

  9. Subgroups who have gained • Female politicians • Leaders of new women‘s organizations • Business women • Employees in the peacebuilding and aid sector

  10. Constraints and prospects • Burden of responsibility as major providers • Lack of capital • Lack of appropriate education • Weakness of the legal system • Conservative backlash

  11. Constraints and prospects • Role models of women in leadership positions • Importance of foreign support • Gender discourse as symbolic resource

  12. Thank you very much for your attention!

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