Ch.+14+Women's+work+-+Kathleen

===In the past, the women of the Igbo tribe had a surprising amount of power compared to the women in western countries. Igbo women were not restricted to only playing the role of wives and mothers. They participated in finding spouses for their children, and it was necessary for the bride to get the mother-in-law's approval before getting married. Women played a role in the economy too. They were allowed have jobs and earn money, just like men. They could even do the work of men in the fields. === ===However, just because women had power in the family and economy, does not mean their lives were easy. Women were forced to get up early to take care of the family and then go work in the fields. Most days they got less than six hours of sleep. Women worked about two-thirds of the total working hours in Africa, yet they only received less than ten percent of the total pay. Men considered women to be inferior. Men also did not value any of the contributions a woman made to the family. Because poylygamy was one of the main practices in the culture, sometimes women even had to rely on the other wives of her huband for help and support. === ===When Westerners went to Africa and began colonization, they were very surprised by how much a woman could accomplish. Even today, women in Africa are considered second to men. Women do not participate in politics, they can be used as slaves, and they can only study certain subjects that are suitable for them. ===

media type="youtube" key="DkUwh1YUMtE?fs=1" height="385" width="640" Women in African society face discrimination everyday. They do so much work, but are still undervalued.

Works Cited Froiland, Andrew. "African People and Culture." //African Tribes-Ibo-Igbo Culture//. The Africa Guide, 2010. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. <[]>.

"Igbo-Marriage and Family." //Marriage and Family-Igbo//. Countries and Their Cultures, 2010. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. <[]>.

Qualls, Alyssa. "Women in Nigeria Today." //Women in Nigeria Today//. Postcolonial Web. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. <[]>.

Vallely, Paul. "From Dawn to Dusk, the Daily Struggle of Africa's Women." The Independent, 21 Sept. 2006. Web. 5 Nov. 2010. <[]- dusk-the-daily-struggle-of-africas-women-416877.html>.