The changing division of labour within rural families in Kenya
Moensted, M.
CDR Project Paper, Centre for Development Research, Denmark (A.77.4): 28
1977
Document Number: 443851
An analysis is made of the division of labour in rural families, and its relationship to the transformation of Kenyan society. The conditions for the development of the division of labour have been changing fundamentally over the last 50 years, due both to the internal dynamics of agricultural production and to several other factors: (1) the immigration of settlers from Europe; (2) population pressure on land; and (3) laws against hunting, local wars and cattle raids, commercializing the purchase of meat. There are two well-defined trends in the changing burden of work within the family: a change of allocation of work in the household and agriculture from men to women, and a commercialization of farming. The pattern of division of labour shows considerable variations, mostly linked to the economic conditions of the social strata or regional differences, but the main general trait is that women are not relieved of any burdens, but rather have an increased workload. Also children, even if they go to school, still have many duties in the household, and replace hired labour in agriculture. The men's principal role is the control of cash crops, income management and income supplementation through other activities.