Gender Role and Pastoralist Women's Involvement in Income Generation: The Case of Female Firewood Sellers in Somali Region of Ethiopia

This study explored the impact of pastoral women's engagement in Income Generating Activities on gender roles taking female firewood sellers in Shinile District, Somali Region of Ethiopia as a case study. Drought dwindled away the livestock of pastoralists in the research area, undermining the traditional role that pastoral men play in food provision. Consequently, pastoral women get engaged in non-pastoral income generating activities, specifically firewood sale, for their household survival. Results indicated that women's burden increased due to their engagement in firewood trade. Also, the activity undermined women's participation in community activities as they spent a substantial amount of time on firewood collection and selling. However, despite the usual lower involvement of men in reproductive activities; their participation in domestic tasks has increased commencing up on women's engagement in firewood selling. The income gained enabled women to be a co-bread winner, even if, it is not big enough to improve their wellbeing. It is also emphasized in this study that gender roles are subject to change, for instance depending on time and one's livelihood set up.