Patriarchy in Pre-Colonial Kapedo, Turkana County 1850 to 1900

Abstract

This study examines the influence of Patriarchy culture on women’s socio-economic development in Kapedo, Turkana County, Kenya from 1850 to 1900. The research emphasizes the lasting effects of patriarchy on women’s lives, showing how it perpetuates inequality through imbalanced power dynamics and limited access to opportunities and decision-making roles. The findings reveal that a patriarchal framework significantly disadvantaged women by maintaining unequal power dynamics, which limited their access to opportunities, resources, and decision-making roles. The findings draw attention to the systemic barriers that hinder women's full participation in society, reinforcing their subordination across various cultural and historical contexts, including Kapedo, Turkana County. Despite gradual shifts in women's roles toward greater socio-economic engagement, patriarchal norms endure, shaping societal perceptions and practices that maintain women's subordinate status and foster discrimination. Addressing these entrenched dynamics is crucial for achieving genuine gender equality and empowering women to fully contribute to societal advancement.