Determinants of Changing Gender Roles Among the Maasai Women Living in Ngong Town, Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

This was a descriptive study on the determinants of changing denger roles among the Maasail women living in Ngong’ Town, Kajiado County. Gender roles and responsibilities are socially constructed and vary from one socio-cultural context to another. Specifically the study set out to: investigate factors that contribute to changing gender roles and impact of these changes on the gender roles on the Maasai women. The study was conducted in peri-urban area of Ngong, Kajiado County. Guided by Harvard Analytical Framework, the study employed a cross-sectional descriptive approach using mixed method approach. The study collected both both qualitative and quantitative data. The study population was the individuals living in Ngong’ Town, Kajiado County. They provided information on the factors that have influenced the changes in gender roles of Maasai women and the impact of such changes. The unit of analysis was an individual Maasai living in Kajiado County. An inclusion-exclusion criterion was used to select the participants in the study in that one had to be 18 years and above and must have lived in Kajiado for a period not less than six months. The study consisted 100 of women and men who were randomly sampled. Purposive sampling was used to select the key informants while the focus group discussants were sampled through convenience sampling basic on availability. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the community members while focus group discussions and key informant interview guide was used among the community members and informants. Data analysis was done through descriptive statistics, generating frequencies and presenting those using tables and charts. Quantitative data was analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 20 while qualitative data from focus group discussions and key informant interviews were analyzed thematically in line with study objectives and a few verbatim quotes used to project the voices of the participants. The study findings indicate that there are changes in gender roles in the study site and various factors, in different combinations, are responsible. Education attainment especially for women was found to be a key factor for changes in gender roles. Education provide women with skills and knowledge and thus able to ascend to employment and perform duties that were previously performed by men. Further, technology and media, government policy, death of husband, and unemployment for men are other factors contributing to changes in gender roles. The impact of these changes is felt in the emerging female-headed households and women’s strain to fend for their families. Other effects include increased women participation in leadership. The study concludes that, gender roles are not fixated and can change from time to time and from one socio-cultural setting to another. The gender roles that are assigned to men and women have an important implication to their participation in social, political, and economic growth. The study recommends that programs on empowerment need to focus on the unsustainable and negative impact of changes in gender roles because role reversal affecting men are not sustainable and the program need to embark on men empowerment initiatives in order to balance the development scale. It recommends further, that relevant stakeholders in government and partners need to use other approaches to curb social vices such as early marriages since change in gender roles has not been successful in addressing this issues. Last the study makes suggestion for further research that will focus on female-headed households within Maasai Community and investigate the factors contributing to this phenomenon.