Women in post-war Liberia.

Identities, opportunities and constraints in a

historical perspectiveVeronika FuestMax Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

Halle, Germany

LSA 39th ConferenceUniversity of Indiana

Bloomington, 24 March 2007

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

A model of the past (north-western Liberia)

Women as labor force

Controlled by elders and husbands

Division of labor

Developments since 1990 - I

New roles and skills More responsibilities More scope of manoeuvre New jobs Self-help organizations Enrolment of girls in schools

Developments since 1990 - II

Peace-making organizations Feminist identities Political participation at local and

national levels Contesting traditional leaders

Foreign interventions and institutional change I

Proliferation of western gender discourse

Inclusive methods of training and sensitization

Foreign interventions and institutional change II

Advice on gender policies and legislation

(Unintended) consequences: Increase in institutional complexity

Historical Continuity

„Feminization“ of production, female-headed households

Women in leadership (informally and public office)

‚Cultural heritage‘ of Americo-Liberian rule

Subgroups who have gained

Female politicians Leaders of new women‘s

organizations Business women Employees in the

peacebuilding and aid sector

Constraints and prospects

Burden of responsibility as major providers

Lack of capital Lack of appropriate education Weakness of the legal system Conservative backlash

Constraints and prospects

Role models of women in leadership positions

Importance of foreign support

Gender discourse as symbolic resource

Thank you very much

for your attention!