Colonial Workforce and Institutionalization of Gender Inequality in Oron Society, 1900-1960

Abstract

This study examines the impact of colonialism on the workforce and gender dynamics in Oron society between 1900 and 1960. It argues that the introduction of colonial  policies significantly altered traditional gender roles and exacerbated inequality. Before colonial rule, Oron society operated on a system where men and women had complementary, though distinct, roles with women playing a central part equally. This balance was disrupted as the colonial government prioritized male labour for public works, forced labour and the cultivation of cash crops like palm produce, which were deemed more valuable to their colonial economy.  This led to a growing economic disparity between the genders, as men's economic power increased while women's was diminished , devalued and marginalized in colonial formal economy .The study employs historical tools of qualitative analysis garnered from data obtained from primary and secondary sources. The study fills a gap in gender studies as it concludes  that the colonial period was a transformative era that institutionalized new forms of gender inequality in Oron society by reshaping the workforce and undermining the pre-existing, more balanced gender-specific  systems ,hence, the legacy of these colonial policies continues to influence gender relations and economic roles in the region today.

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