Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania

Given the strong patriarchal systems still evident among the pastoral Maasai society one might think that the life of the Maasai women is bleak and difficult; but this is no longer the case. First-hand observation, in-depth interviews and group discussions obtained through an ethnographic-inspire...

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Autor principal: Massoi, Lucy Willy
Formato: Artigo
Idioma:inglês
Publicado em: African Study Monographs 2026
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Acesso em linha:https://scholar.mzumbe.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2061
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author Massoi, Lucy Willy
author_facet Massoi, Lucy Willy
author_sort Massoi, Lucy Willy
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description Given the strong patriarchal systems still evident among the pastoral Maasai society one might think that the life of the Maasai women is bleak and difficult; but this is no longer the case. First-hand observation, in-depth interviews and group discussions obtained through an ethnographic-inspired approach revealed that increasingly in Kilosa Tanzania, there is new hope for the women once regarded as servants and properties of men under the male-dominated empire. Where state structures, services and civil society are thin on the ground, the church is increasingly becoming involved in this transformation process. Women are increasingly learning to negotiate and manipulate rules and norms, to straddle different institutions, both formal and informal and to resist the oppressive culture. The church is facilitating and promoting self-awareness to women of their own value and potentials, even as widows, single women or divorcees. Local communities and women in particular are increasingly supported, educated and empowered to manage their own lives and shoulder their reproductive and productive roles as well as decision-making roles once regarded a male-only dominion. Some have even ventured into politics and are demanding their rights to land within the patriarchal-dominated system. While the church has tried to penetrate and fight the patriarchal system, much remains to be done to fight the deep-rooted system in Maasai society.
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spelling ir-:123456789-20612026-06-24T18:47:27Z Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania Massoi, Lucy Willy Women Pastoral societies Maasai Church and patriarchy Given the strong patriarchal systems still evident among the pastoral Maasai society one might think that the life of the Maasai women is bleak and difficult; but this is no longer the case. First-hand observation, in-depth interviews and group discussions obtained through an ethnographic-inspired approach revealed that increasingly in Kilosa Tanzania, there is new hope for the women once regarded as servants and properties of men under the male-dominated empire. Where state structures, services and civil society are thin on the ground, the church is increasingly becoming involved in this transformation process. Women are increasingly learning to negotiate and manipulate rules and norms, to straddle different institutions, both formal and informal and to resist the oppressive culture. The church is facilitating and promoting self-awareness to women of their own value and potentials, even as widows, single women or divorcees. Local communities and women in particular are increasingly supported, educated and empowered to manage their own lives and shoulder their reproductive and productive roles as well as decision-making roles once regarded a male-only dominion. Some have even ventured into politics and are demanding their rights to land within the patriarchal-dominated system. While the church has tried to penetrate and fight the patriarchal system, much remains to be done to fight the deep-rooted system in Maasai society. 2026-06-04T07:13:42Z 2018 Article APA https://scholar.mzumbe.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2061 en application/pdf African Study Monographs
spellingShingle Women
Pastoral societies
Maasai
Church and patriarchy
Massoi, Lucy Willy
Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
title Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
title_full Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
title_fullStr Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
title_short Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
title_sort women in pastoral societies and the church in kilosa tanzania
topic Women
Pastoral societies
Maasai
Church and patriarchy
url https://scholar.mzumbe.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2061
work_keys_str_mv AT massoilucywilly womeninpastoralsocietiesandthechurchinkilosatanzania