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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:When Sex Becomes a Critical Variable: Married Women and Extra-Domestic Work in Lusaka, Zambia
Author:Hansen, Karen T.ISNI
Year:1980
Periodical:African Social Research
Issue:30
Period:December
Pages:831-849
Language:English
Geographic term:Zambia
Subjects:women's employment
Women's Issues
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Labor and Employment
Abstract:In this paper, which is concerned with urban women's work opportunity, the author tries to explain, how and why sex has become a factor that critically affects equality. More specifically, to explore this question she uses data from her study (1973) of why poor, middle-aged, married women in a peri-urban township in Lusaka, have difficulties finding salaried work. In explaining why sex becomes a critical variable, the author briefly discusses two interrelated sets of factors: 1. has to do with the historical processes through which opportunities for economic participation became unevenly distributed, as external forces subordinated economic activities first to the needs of the colonial power and then to those of the world market. This external dependency influenced the recruitment of labour and set into motion internal forces that make this process continue. In such a socio-economic structure a small grouping benefits while the majority endures hardships. That majority comprises, of course, members of both sexes; 2. concerns the way in which this process affects the work roles of the women studied, how they in turn respond to them, and how they affect some other urban women. Notes, ref., tab.
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