Gender and identification in partilineal and patriarchial societies

Case studies from southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The following collection of articles discusses the much debated categories of patrilineality and patriarchy. Arguing that patrilineal and patriarchal social organisations have disadvantages not only for women, but also for men, it aims to draw attention to the opportunities such organisations open up for women. Case studies from southern Ethiopia are used to add to the existing research by focusing on patrilineality and patriarchy in combination with questions of (gendered) identification. They show that instead of being limited by the patrilineal and patriarchal organisation of their societies, women overtly take agency and make use of the possibilities of multiple identification.