With reference to one area of Africa, discuss the changing role of women within the period from 1800 to 1960.

Candidates are required to consider the ways in which, and the extent to which, the role of women has changed in their chosen area of Africa within the period from 1800 to 1960. They are not required to provide full coverage of that period; however the timeline they elect to discuss should offer some scope for them to discuss changes and/or the reasons for limited change.

Indicative content

• It may be suggested that the role of women changed little during this period and that they continued to lead fairly traditional ways of life; marrying, bearing children; looking after the home and/or seldom undertaking paid work.
• It may also be noted that the colonial period did not offer women much scope for change; men tended to benefit from new employment opportunities and, often, women’s work was limited to casual labour.
• On the contrary, it may be suggested that the colonial period promoted trade, which in turn led to the development of monetary systems that inhibited subsistence systems and encouraged more widespread employment.
• However, changes did occur and these may have been linked to an increasing “Westernization”, which may, depending on the area, have brought significant technological developments and cultural shifts. This may also have provided social and educational opportunities.
• As a result of educational opportunities, there may have been more pathways for women in the workplace and this may have contributed to political enfranchisement for women as laws were increasingly introduced that enabled women to vote.
• The impact of religion could be a legitimate area of discussion and, depending on the selected area, candidates may discuss the impact of Christianity and/or Islam and, for example, examine the decline in the rate of polygamous marriages.
• The degree of change is likely to vary significantly according to the area being discussed; however candidates should deploy specific evidence to support their assertions.
• In many parts of Africa the migration of men to the cities in search of work had important consequences for women. In addition to their traditional responsibilities of child-rearing and looking after the home they increasingly had to work in subsistence agriculture.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

[20 marks]