The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods

Bringing together history and economics, this paper presents a historical and processual understanding of women's economic marginalization in Sub-Saharan Africa from the pre-colonial period to the end of colonial rule. It is not that women hav...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Akyeampong, Emmanuel, Fofack, Hippolyte
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
SEX
WAR
WDR
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/04/16240986/contribution-african-women-economic-growth-development-historical-perspectives-policy-implications-part-pre-colonial-colonial-periods
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6056
id okr-10986-6056
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCESS TO LAND
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
ALCOHOL
ALLIANCES
ANTHROPOLOGIST
ANTHROPOLOGISTS
ANTHROPOLOGY
APARTHEID
BLACK WOMEN
BREADWINNER
CAPITALISM
CASH CROP
CASH CROPS
CHILDHOOD DISEASES
CHILDREN PER WOMAN
CITIZENS
CIVIL LAW
CIVILIZATION
COLONIALISM
COMPENSATION
CONCUBINES
COURT
COURTS
CULTURAL CHANGE
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
CULTURAL VALUES
CULTURES
CUSTODY
CUSTOM
CUSTOMARY LAW
DEMOGRAPHIC PRESSURES
DEPENDENCE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DIASPORA
DISABILITY
DISADVANTAGED WOMEN
DISCOURSE
DISCRIMINATION
DISEASES
DIVORCE
DOMINANCE
DOWRY
ECONOMIC CHANGE
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
ECONOMIC PROGRESS
ECONOMIC STATUS
ECONOMICS
EDUCATION FOR GIRLS
EDUCATION OF GIRLS
EDUCATION SYSTEMS
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
EMANCIPATION
EMPOWERING WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
ETHNICITY
ETHNOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS
EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN
EXPLORERS
EXTENSION
FAMILIES
FAMILY LAW
FARMERS
FARMS
FEMALE
FEMALE LABOR
FEMALE LABOR FORCE
FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
FEMALE WORKERS
FEMALES
FERTILITY
FERTILITY RATES
FISH
FOOD SUPPLIES
GENDER
GENDER ASPECTS
GENDER BIAS
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
GENDER EQUALITY
GENDER GAP
GENDER GAPS
GENDER INEQUALITY
GENDER NORMS
GENDER PARITY
GENDER RELATIONS
GENDER ROLES
GIRLS
GLOBAL EFFORT
HOME
HOMES
HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSING
HUMAN BEINGS
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HUMAN RACE
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUNTING
HUSBAND
HUSBANDS
IMMIGRANT
IMMIGRANT WOMEN
IMMIGRANTS
IMMIGRATION
INDIGENOUS WOMEN
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
INEQUITIES
INFANT
INFANT MORTALITY
INHERITANCE
ISLAMIC LAW
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE
JUSTICE
KINSHIP
KINSHIP STRUCTURES
LABOR MARKET
LABORERS
LABOUR MARKETS
LAND TENURE
LEGAL REFORM
LEGAL STATUS
LIMITED RESOURCES
LITERACY
LIVING STANDARDS
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MALARIA
MARGINALIZATION
MARRIAGES
MASS EDUCATION
MATRIARCHY
MEASLES
MENSTRUATION
MIGRANT
MIGRANT GROUPS
MIGRANT WORKERS
MIGRATION
MIGRATIONS
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
MINORITY
MONOGAMY
MOTHER
NATION BUILDING
NATIVE WORKERS
NATURAL RESOURCE
NATURAL RESOURCES
NORMS
NURSE
PATRIARCHIES
PATRIARCHY
PEACE
PHILOSOPHY
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL POWER
POLYGYNY
POPULATION MOVEMENTS
POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION
POWER
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PROCREATION
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
PROGRESS
PROPORTION OF GIRLS
PUBERTY
REFUGEES
RELIGION
REPRODUCTION
RESPECT
RITES
RITUALS
RUBELLA
RURAL AREAS
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SEX
SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOR
SEXUALITY
SINGLE MEN
SLAVERY
SOCIAL CHANGE
SOCIAL HISTORY
SOCIAL NORMS
SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
SOCIAL STATUS
SOCIETIES
SOCIETY
SOCIOLOGY
SOILS
SPOUSES
STATUS OF WOMEN
SUBORDINATION OF WOMEN
SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE
SUBSISTENCE FARMING
SYMBOLS
TECHNICAL TRAINING
TEMPORARY MIGRANTS
TEXTILES
TOWNS
TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
TUBERCULOSIS
UNIONS
UNMARRIED WOMEN
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WARS
WDR
WIFE
WILL
WIVES
WOMANHOOD
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
WORKING CLASS
YOUNG MEN
YOUNG WOMEN
spellingShingle ACCESS TO LAND
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
ALCOHOL
ALLIANCES
ANTHROPOLOGIST
ANTHROPOLOGISTS
ANTHROPOLOGY
APARTHEID
BLACK WOMEN
BREADWINNER
CAPITALISM
CASH CROP
CASH CROPS
CHILDHOOD DISEASES
CHILDREN PER WOMAN
CITIZENS
CIVIL LAW
CIVILIZATION
COLONIALISM
COMPENSATION
CONCUBINES
COURT
COURTS
CULTURAL CHANGE
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
CULTURAL VALUES
CULTURES
CUSTODY
CUSTOM
CUSTOMARY LAW
DEMOGRAPHIC PRESSURES
DEPENDENCE
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DIASPORA
DISABILITY
DISADVANTAGED WOMEN
DISCOURSE
DISCRIMINATION
DISEASES
DIVORCE
DOMINANCE
DOWRY
ECONOMIC CHANGE
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
ECONOMIC PROGRESS
ECONOMIC STATUS
ECONOMICS
EDUCATION FOR GIRLS
EDUCATION OF GIRLS
EDUCATION SYSTEMS
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
EMANCIPATION
EMPOWERING WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
ETHNICITY
ETHNOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS
EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN
EXPLORERS
EXTENSION
FAMILIES
FAMILY LAW
FARMERS
FARMS
FEMALE
FEMALE LABOR
FEMALE LABOR FORCE
FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
FEMALE WORKERS
FEMALES
FERTILITY
FERTILITY RATES
FISH
FOOD SUPPLIES
GENDER
GENDER ASPECTS
GENDER BIAS
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
GENDER EQUALITY
GENDER GAP
GENDER GAPS
GENDER INEQUALITY
GENDER NORMS
GENDER PARITY
GENDER RELATIONS
GENDER ROLES
GIRLS
GLOBAL EFFORT
HOME
HOMES
HOUSEHOLDS
HOUSING
HUMAN BEINGS
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HUMAN RACE
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUNTING
HUSBAND
HUSBANDS
IMMIGRANT
IMMIGRANT WOMEN
IMMIGRANTS
IMMIGRATION
INDIGENOUS WOMEN
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
INEQUITIES
INFANT
INFANT MORTALITY
INHERITANCE
ISLAMIC LAW
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE
JUSTICE
KINSHIP
KINSHIP STRUCTURES
LABOR MARKET
LABORERS
LABOUR MARKETS
LAND TENURE
LEGAL REFORM
LEGAL STATUS
LIMITED RESOURCES
LITERACY
LIVING STANDARDS
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MALARIA
MARGINALIZATION
MARRIAGES
MASS EDUCATION
MATRIARCHY
MEASLES
MENSTRUATION
MIGRANT
MIGRANT GROUPS
MIGRANT WORKERS
MIGRATION
MIGRATIONS
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
MINORITY
MONOGAMY
MOTHER
NATION BUILDING
NATIVE WORKERS
NATURAL RESOURCE
NATURAL RESOURCES
NORMS
NURSE
PATRIARCHIES
PATRIARCHY
PEACE
PHILOSOPHY
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL POWER
POLYGYNY
POPULATION MOVEMENTS
POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION
POWER
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PROCREATION
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
PROGRESS
PROPORTION OF GIRLS
PUBERTY
REFUGEES
RELIGION
REPRODUCTION
RESPECT
RITES
RITUALS
RUBELLA
RURAL AREAS
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
SEX
SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOR
SEXUALITY
SINGLE MEN
SLAVERY
SOCIAL CHANGE
SOCIAL HISTORY
SOCIAL NORMS
SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
SOCIAL STATUS
SOCIETIES
SOCIETY
SOCIOLOGY
SOILS
SPOUSES
STATUS OF WOMEN
SUBORDINATION OF WOMEN
SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE
SUBSISTENCE FARMING
SYMBOLS
TECHNICAL TRAINING
TEMPORARY MIGRANTS
TEXTILES
TOWNS
TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES
TUBERCULOSIS
UNIONS
UNMARRIED WOMEN
VILLAGES
VIOLENCE
WAR
WARS
WDR
WIFE
WILL
WIVES
WOMANHOOD
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
WORKING CLASS
YOUNG MEN
YOUNG WOMEN
Akyeampong, Emmanuel
Fofack, Hippolyte
The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods
geographic_facet Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
relation Policy Research Working Paper ; No. 6051
description Bringing together history and economics, this paper presents a historical and processual understanding of women's economic marginalization in Sub-Saharan Africa from the pre-colonial period to the end of colonial rule. It is not that women have not been economically active or productive; it is rather that they have often not been able to claim the proceeds of their labor or have it formally accounted for. The paper focuses on the pre-colonial and colonial periods and outlines three major arguments. First, it discusses the historical processes through which the labor of women was increasingly appropriated even in kinship structures in pre-colonial Africa, utilizing the concepts of "rights in persons" and "wealth in people." Reviewing the processes of production and reproduction, it explains why most slaves in pre-colonial Africa were women and discusses how slavery and slave trade intensified the exploitation of women. Second, it analyzes how the cultivation of cash crops and European missionary constructions of the individual, marriage, and family from the early decades of the 19th century sequestered female labor and made it invisible in the realm of domestic production. Third, it discusses how colonial policies from the late 19th century reinforced the "capture" of female labor and the codification of patriarchy through the nature and operation of the colonial economy and the instrumentality of customary law. The sequel to this paper focuses on the post-colonial period. It examines the continuing relevance and impact of the historical processes this paper discusses on post-colonial economies, and suggests some policy implications.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Akyeampong, Emmanuel
Fofack, Hippolyte
author_facet Akyeampong, Emmanuel
Fofack, Hippolyte
author_sort Akyeampong, Emmanuel
title The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods
title_short The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods
title_full The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods
title_fullStr The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods
title_full_unstemmed The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods
title_sort contribution of african women to economic growth and development : historical perspectives and policy implications, part i, the pre-colonial and colonial periods
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2012
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/04/16240986/contribution-african-women-economic-growth-development-historical-perspectives-policy-implications-part-pre-colonial-colonial-periods
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6056
_version_ 1764397267755728896
spelling okr-10986-60562021-04-23T14:02:24Z The Contribution of African Women to Economic Growth and Development : Historical Perspectives and Policy Implications, Part I, The Pre-colonial and Colonial Periods Akyeampong, Emmanuel Fofack, Hippolyte ACCESS TO LAND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ALCOHOL ALLIANCES ANTHROPOLOGIST ANTHROPOLOGISTS ANTHROPOLOGY APARTHEID BLACK WOMEN BREADWINNER CAPITALISM CASH CROP CASH CROPS CHILDHOOD DISEASES CHILDREN PER WOMAN CITIZENS CIVIL LAW CIVILIZATION COLONIALISM COMPENSATION CONCUBINES COURT COURTS CULTURAL CHANGE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES CULTURAL VALUES CULTURES CUSTODY CUSTOM CUSTOMARY LAW DEMOGRAPHIC PRESSURES DEPENDENCE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT POLICY DIASPORA DISABILITY DISADVANTAGED WOMEN DISCOURSE DISCRIMINATION DISEASES DIVORCE DOMINANCE DOWRY ECONOMIC CHANGE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ECONOMIC PROGRESS ECONOMIC STATUS ECONOMICS EDUCATION FOR GIRLS EDUCATION OF GIRLS EDUCATION SYSTEMS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS EMANCIPATION EMPOWERING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN ETHNICITY ETHNOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN EXPLORERS EXTENSION FAMILIES FAMILY LAW FARMERS FARMS FEMALE FEMALE LABOR FEMALE LABOR FORCE FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION FEMALE WORKERS FEMALES FERTILITY FERTILITY RATES FISH FOOD SUPPLIES GENDER GENDER ASPECTS GENDER BIAS GENDER DISCRIMINATION GENDER EQUALITY GENDER GAP GENDER GAPS GENDER INEQUALITY GENDER NORMS GENDER PARITY GENDER RELATIONS GENDER ROLES GIRLS GLOBAL EFFORT HOME HOMES HOUSEHOLDS HOUSING HUMAN BEINGS HUMAN CAPITAL HUMAN POPULATIONS HUMAN RACE HUMAN RESOURCES HUNTING HUSBAND HUSBANDS IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANT WOMEN IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRATION INDIGENOUS WOMEN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION INEQUITIES INFANT INFANT MORTALITY INHERITANCE ISLAMIC LAW JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE JUSTICE KINSHIP KINSHIP STRUCTURES LABOR MARKET LABORERS LABOUR MARKETS LAND TENURE LEGAL REFORM LEGAL STATUS LIMITED RESOURCES LITERACY LIVING STANDARDS LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES MALARIA MARGINALIZATION MARRIAGES MASS EDUCATION MATRIARCHY MEASLES MENSTRUATION MIGRANT MIGRANT GROUPS MIGRANT WORKERS MIGRATION MIGRATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS MINORITY MONOGAMY MOTHER NATION BUILDING NATIVE WORKERS NATURAL RESOURCE NATURAL RESOURCES NORMS NURSE PATRIARCHIES PATRIARCHY PEACE PHILOSOPHY PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT POLICY DISCUSSIONS POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLICY RESEARCH POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER POLITICAL POWER POLYGYNY POPULATION MOVEMENTS POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION POWER PRIMARY EDUCATION PROCREATION PRODUCTIVITY PROFESSIONAL WOMEN PROGRESS PROPORTION OF GIRLS PUBERTY REFUGEES RELIGION REPRODUCTION RESPECT RITES RITUALS RUBELLA RURAL AREAS SECONDARY SCHOOLS SEX SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOR SEXUALITY SINGLE MEN SLAVERY SOCIAL CHANGE SOCIAL HISTORY SOCIAL NORMS SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES SOCIAL ORGANIZATION SOCIAL STATUS SOCIETIES SOCIETY SOCIOLOGY SOILS SPOUSES STATUS OF WOMEN SUBORDINATION OF WOMEN SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE SUBSISTENCE FARMING SYMBOLS TECHNICAL TRAINING TEMPORARY MIGRANTS TEXTILES TOWNS TRADITIONAL SOCIETIES TUBERCULOSIS UNIONS UNMARRIED WOMEN VILLAGES VIOLENCE WAR WARS WDR WIFE WILL WIVES WOMANHOOD WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE WORKING CLASS YOUNG MEN YOUNG WOMEN Bringing together history and economics, this paper presents a historical and processual understanding of women's economic marginalization in Sub-Saharan Africa from the pre-colonial period to the end of colonial rule. It is not that women have not been economically active or productive; it is rather that they have often not been able to claim the proceeds of their labor or have it formally accounted for. The paper focuses on the pre-colonial and colonial periods and outlines three major arguments. First, it discusses the historical processes through which the labor of women was increasingly appropriated even in kinship structures in pre-colonial Africa, utilizing the concepts of "rights in persons" and "wealth in people." Reviewing the processes of production and reproduction, it explains why most slaves in pre-colonial Africa were women and discusses how slavery and slave trade intensified the exploitation of women. Second, it analyzes how the cultivation of cash crops and European missionary constructions of the individual, marriage, and family from the early decades of the 19th century sequestered female labor and made it invisible in the realm of domestic production. Third, it discusses how colonial policies from the late 19th century reinforced the "capture" of female labor and the codification of patriarchy through the nature and operation of the colonial economy and the instrumentality of customary law. The sequel to this paper focuses on the post-colonial period. It examines the continuing relevance and impact of the historical processes this paper discusses on post-colonial economies, and suggests some policy implications. 2012-04-27T07:44:48Z 2012-04-27T07:44:48Z 2012-04 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/04/16240986/contribution-african-women-economic-growth-development-historical-perspectives-policy-implications-part-pre-colonial-colonial-periods http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6056 English Policy Research Working Paper ; No. 6051 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research Africa Sub-Saharan Africa