Double Burden of Married Women Academician in Three Public Universities of Ethiopia

Abstract

In developing country, predominantly in sub Saharan region the theme of development and women has emerged as a baseline for execution of any development output. In view of that, Ethiopian government is encouraging women to pursue in higher education and be part of economic development, alongside its movement for diminishing the existed socio-cultural attitude and practices that hinder women’s participation and competition.  As a result, little women have involved in education and few of them have joined the academic institutes with teaching and professional errands. In line with that, some women who are employed in those institutes are married and expected to work in multidimensional public and household career. That's why; this research is curious to assess the double burden of married academic women in neighborhood public Universities of Ethiopia, namely Mekelle, Adigrat and Axum. The researcher was interested to assess the academic, socio-economic contributions and challenges of married female university professors at academics and domestic level. To accomplish this study mixed research approach has been applied and ninety six female academicians had participated. In the finding 15 % of women are found as staff member but energetically participated in academics teaching, research, and community service, nonetheless there are natural and social factors which hinder them from fully occupied and contend in relative with male colleagues. Being married and mother of children is holding back their full involvement of academic role in different way. It is suggested that, unless the patriarchal structure of unbalanced gender role is changed, women employees will continue to suffer from double/triple burden and their contribution in education or other development aspect will be not worth mentioning.

Keywords: Women academicals, Marriage, Gender role, Academic work

DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/56-07

Publication date:June 30^th 2019