Change and Continuity in Gender relations in Kambaata community

The overall objective of this study is to explore power relations of gender among the Kambaata community of southern Ethiopia. The research will explore both change and continuity of gender relations, examining the major social, cultural and economic factors affecting gender relations. It describes the major social, cultural and economic changes which have occurred in the society within the context of gender relations with a focus on practices and narratives encompassing the present young generation and the generations of their mothers and grandmothers, which will allow changes in narratives and practices. How do women and men feel about various forms of power and structural changes in Kambaata community will be analyzed. Existing research on Kambaata loses sight of women’s experience on using their power, thus not taking into account the fact that they have- an often hidden-potential of influence. In this research complex the interplay between women’s agency, existing structures and institutional interventions will be examined to understand how the changes are occurring. Relationships between men and women are changing due to institutional factors and individual women’s struggles in Kambaata. Qualitative research methodology will be employed in the study for its appropriateness to assess how institutions and individual women accomplished their respective role in the study area and how they communicate about it. To this end data will be collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, case studies, and focus group discussions. My analysis is inspired by Sherry Ortner’s practice theory which is a theory of how social beings, with their diverse motives and their diverse intentions, make and transform the community they live in. Augmenting Ortner’s practice theory, I will draw on Anthony Giddens’ social change theory as well as Raewyn Connell’s and Eric Wolf’s conceptualization of gender and power. And I also apply critical approach of gender theory.