This book is a thorough study about the upcoming of elite women in Eritrea, encompassing the time of the armed struggle for liberation as well as its aftermath up to the tenth anniversary of Eritrean independence in 2001 and beyond. It is a multi-disciplinary study, combining a comprehensive analysis of Eritrean history, society and political developments with extensive case study research into the lives of different groups of elite women. Modernisation processes created by the Eritrean revolution fostered an environment in which women are regarded as equal and encouraged to occupy positions of leadership. At the same time, the revolution's hegemonic ideology does not envisage women opting out of its version of modernity, thus new avenues open up only for those who subscribe to the revolution's narrative of progress. Furthermore, it is argued that while the Eritrean revolution played a decisive role in opening up possibilities for women's emancipation, a failure to implement democratic structures of governance puts the revolution's societal achievements at risk - its legacy might well rest with possibilities of personal liberation in individual lives.
Author(s): Tanja R. Muller
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 299
List of appendices......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 8
Glossary of foreign words......Page 10
List of acronyms......Page 11
INTRODUCTION......Page 15
1 SOCIAL CHANGE AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN A REVOLUTIONARY SOCIETY – THE CONTEXT......Page 19
The concept of revolution......Page 22
Women and revolution in the developing world – A history of unfulfilled promises?......Page 30
2 WITHIN THE ERITREAN REVOLUTION: NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND WOMEN'S LIBERATION – CONFLICTING OBJECTIVES OR COMPLEMENTARY AGENDA?......Page 39
Eritrean society and nationalist politics up to 1970......Page 40
The EPLF and its national democratic revolution......Page 51
Within the Eritrean revolution: National independence and women’s liberation......Page 59
Methodological choices......Page 72
Data sources......Page 76
4 OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND UNIVERSITY GRADUATES: THE STRUGGLE AS WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY – SOME HISTORIES......Page 84
Opening one: In the field and beyond......Page 85
Opening two: The road via education......Page 101
5 THE JOURNEY THROUGH SCHOOLING – SUCCESSES AND TRIBULATIONS OF YOUNG WOMEN IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS......Page 134
The exceptions – Stories of fulfilled ambitions......Page 137
From Tsabra to Barentu: Encounters with tomorrow's elite?......Page 147
The view from Asmara......Page 166
After the struggle ... still fighting for the revolution?......Page 169
Different careers, different feelings?......Page 176
In search of a role model......Page 180
Education for an emancipated future?!......Page 187
7 WOMEN IN THE ELITE II: AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE – THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL EMANCIPATION......Page 195
"Our future is trapped" – The individual versus the nation......Page 197
"I want a good job" – Ambitions for what kind of future?......Page 204
8 THE STORY SO FAR – CONCLUSION......Page 217
Epilogue......Page 235
Appendices......Page 243
Bibliography......Page 289
Index......Page 311
