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Translations of Gender Equality among Rural Arsi Oromo in Ethiopia

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  • Marit Tolo Østebø

Abstract

type="main"> How are global policies on women's rights and gender equality translated into local contexts and who are the translators in this process? This article describes and analyses contradictory and competing translations of gender equality in two districts in Ethiopia. Two main strands of translations are identified: ‘gender experts’ in the government's gender machinery emphasize the importance of changing the gendered division of labour while the ‘grassroots’ underscore the importance of collaborative work and mutual agreement through conjugal dialogue. Although these translations are similar in terms of their focus on labour, they represent fundamentally different visions of gender equality, the first reflecting a vision of equality as sameness, the latter ideals of gender complementarity. Rather than presenting one or both translations as examples of resistance against or misinterpretation of gender equality, I argue that contemporary theories of translation and discursively informed theories on global norm diffusion offer perspectives that allow us to recognize the potential of contestations in meaning creation. This opens up the translational space as the ‘grassroots’ are recognized as translators.

Suggested Citation

  • Marit Tolo Østebø, 2015. "Translations of Gender Equality among Rural Arsi Oromo in Ethiopia," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 46(3), pages 442-463, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devchg:v:46:y:2015:i:3:p:442-463
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Engida, Ermias & Tamru, Seneshaw & Tsehaye, Eyasu & Debowicz, Dario & Dorosh, Paul A. & Robinson, Sherman, 2011. "Ethiopia’s growth and transformation plan: A computable general equilibrium analysis of alternative financing options," ESSP working papers 30, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Acharya, Amitav, 2004. "How Ideas Spread: Whose Norms Matter? Norm Localization and Institutional Change in Asian Regionalism," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 58(2), pages 239-275, April.
    3. Finnemore, Martha & Sikkink, Kathryn, 1998. "International Norm Dynamics and Political Change," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(4), pages 887-917, October.
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