Gender Stratification and Women in Developing Countries

Gender Stratification and Women in Developing Nations

University of Phoenix

January 9, 2011

Gender Stratification is basically is when gender is the only focus in social stratification. As far as gender stratification and women in developing nations women are not shown equal rights when it comes to employment, inheritance or technical knowledge. In this paper the basis of where this gender stratification began and why it continues will be discussed. Also the different nations such as Kenya, Sweden, Germany, Japan, China, Micronesia and Malaysia where the women are victims of gender stratification. We will discuss the different ways that women are basically discriminated against because of their gender and not their intelligence. Why must there be a continuous fight for women because of their gender?

The first place we will discuss is Kenya. In 1963 Kenya won its independence from the British Colonies. Kenya is multiethnic and has over fifty different ethnic groups although the Kikuyu, Luo, Luyia and the Kamba dominate. Most are Christians or Muslims but still follow some African beliefs. Men are usually the only ones who can inherit property and or goods among these groups with exception of the Kamba women may inherit lands from their husbands. Although when the Kamba widow dies the sons inherit the lands not the daughters, but if she does not have sons the land will be inherited by a co-wife’s sons. In 1972 a law was passed that when an owner dies without a will the lands will be divided equally. Since Kenyan women did not receive good education and did not possess a lot of funds they still lost lands because of their inability to fight back. No matter of the law males still leaves their male heirs their lands. Men run the cash crops, planting, harvesting and marketing whereas women...