dominique11 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 In a 1984 book, Claire C. Robertson argued that, before colonialism, age was Line a more important indicator (5) of status and authority than gender in Ghana and in Africa generally. British colonialism imposed European-style male- (10) dominant notions upon more egalitarian local situations to the detriment of women generally, and gender became a defining (15) characteristic that weak- ened women’s power and authority. Subsequent research in Kenya convinced Robertson (20) that she had overgeneralized about Africa. Before colo- nialism, gender was more salient in central Kenya than it was in Ghana, although age (25) was still crucial in determin- ing authority. In contrast with Ghana, where women had traded for hundreds of years and achieved legal majority (30) (not unrelated phenomena), the evidence regarding central Kenya indicated that women were legal minors and were sometimes treated (35) as male property, as were European women at that time. Factors like strong patrilinearity and patrilocality, as well as women’s inferior (40) land rights and lesser involvement in trade, made women more dependent on men than was generally the case in Ghana. However, (45) since age apparently remained the overriding principle of social organiza- tion in central Kenya, some senior women had much (50) authority. Thus, Robertson revised her hypothesis somewhat, arguing that in determining authority in precolonial Africa age was a (55) primary principle that super- seded gender to varying degrees depending on the situation. Q4: The passage indicates that Robertson’s research in Kenya caused her to change her mind regarding which of the following? Whether age was the prevailing principle of social organization in Kenya before colonialism Whether gender was the primary determinant of social authority in Africa generally before colonialism Whether it was only after colonialism that gender became a significant determinant of authority in Kenyan society Whether age was a crucial factor determining authority in Africa after colonialism Whether British colonialism imposed European-style male-dominant notions upon local situations in Ghana Answer: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q5: The passage suggests that after conducting the research mentioned in line 18, but not before, Robertson would have agreed with which of the following about women’s status and authority in Ghana? Greater land rights and greater involvement in trade made women in precolonial Ghana less dependent on men than were European women at that time. Colonialism had a greater impact on the status and authority of Ghanaian women than on Kenyan women. Colonialism had less of an impact on the status and authority of Ghanaian women that it had on the status and authority of other African women. The relative independence of Ghanaian women prior to colonialism was unique in Africa. Before colonialism, the status and authority of Ghanaian women was similar to that of Kenyan women. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harbinger Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Imo B,c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmatissimple Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Please post the question in refreshed post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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