The economic rights of Nandi women

Abstract

The traditional economic rights of Nandi women are outlined, together with changes these are undergoing in the modern setting. Briefly, women traditionally have absolute rights of ownership of chickens, vegetables and the milk from the evening (and in the modern setting, possibly finger millet); qualified rights of ownership over a share of the maize (formerly finger millet) crop, cattle acquired under certain circumstances, and sheep and goats acquired through their own efforts; and veto power over the alienation of family land and cattle. Several factors are discussed which are presently contributing to the erosion of the economic rights of wives, while the economic rights and options of unmarried women are increasing.