Re-evaluation of Women's Roles in Precolonial and Colonial Zimbabwe

Gender division of labor

The allocation of different tasks and responsibilities between men and women in a society.

Cash crop production

The cultivation of crops, such as tobacco or cotton, for sale rather than for personal consumption.

Economic status

The financial position or standing of an individual or group in relation to others in society.

Social importance

The significance or value placed on an individual or group within a social context.

Strategic resources

Critical resources, such as land, labor, or income, that are essential for achieving a desired outcome or maintaining power.

Male wage earners

Men who earn wages or income through employment.

Burden of work

The weight or responsibility of tasks and duties that need to be performed.

Land alienation

The process of transferring land ownership or control from one group to another, often resulting in the displacement of the original inhabitants.

Labor-saving devices

Tools or machines that reduce the amount of manual labor required to perform a task.

Agricultural labor

Work or tasks related to farming or cultivating crops.

Intensifying agricultural labor

Increasing the effort or productivity of agricultural work.

Market opportunities

Favorable conditions or circumstances for buying or selling goods or services.

Resistance to change

The act of opposing or refusing to accept new or different ideas, practices, or circumstances.

Rural-urban migration

The movement of people from rural areas to urban areas in search of better economic opportunities or living conditions.

Polygyny

The practice of having multiple wives simultaneously.

Subsistence plots

Small plots of land used for growing crops to meet the basic needs of a household.

European occupation

The period of European colonization and control over African territories.

Permanent African population

A settled and established African community in urban areas, often seen as a potential threat to colonial authorities.

Wage labor

Work or employment for which a person receives payment or wages.

African reserves

Designated areas of land set aside for African communities under colonial rule.

African-grown maize

Maize (corn) crops cultivated by African farmers.

Capitalist enterprises

Businesses or economic activities driven by the pursuit of profit and private ownership of resources.

Indirect rule

A system of colonial administration in which local indigenous authorities were used to govern on behalf of the colonial power.

Kinship and community ties

Social connections and relationships based on family and shared identity within a community.

Urban African population

African individuals or communities residing in urban areas.

Beer brewing

The process of making beer, a fermented alcoholic beverage, often done by women in African societies.

Prostitution

The exchange of sexual services for money or goods.

Rural African society

The social structure and way of life in rural African communities.

European capitalists

Wealthy individuals or groups from Europe who invest in or own businesses in Africa for profit.

Male laborers

Men who engage in physical or manual work for wages or income.

Rural-based women

Women who reside and work primarily in rural areas.

African male authorities

Male leaders or figures of authority within African communities.

African chiefs

Traditional leaders or rulers of African tribes or communities.

Male elders

Respected older men within African societies who hold positions of authority and influence.

European administration

The system of governance and control established by European colonial powers in African territories.

Polygamy

The practice of having multiple spouses, typically more than one wife.

Pounding and grinding grain

The process of crushing or pulverizing grains, such as millet or maize, using a mortar and pestle.

Cultivating in the fields

The act of preparing and tending to agricultural land for the purpose of growing crops.

Carrying water

The task of transporting water from a source, such as a river or well, to a desired location.

Carrying wood

The act of collecting and transporting firewood or timber for fuel or other purposes.

Brewing millet beer

The process of fermenting millet grains to produce a traditional African alcoholic beverage.

Preparation of food

The activities involved in getting food ready for consumption, including cooking and other forms of food processing.

Hunting

The pursuit and capture of wild animals for food, sport, or other purposes.

Gathering

The collection of wild plants, fruits, nuts, or other natural resources for food or other uses.

Gold mining

The extraction of gold from the earth through various mining techniques.

Alluvial gold

Gold that has been eroded, transported, and deposited by water, often found in riverbeds or streams.

Mining season

The period of time when mining activities are most productive or feasible.

Marondos

Shafts or pits dug into the ground for the purpose of extracting gold or other minerals.

Quartz

A mineral often associated with gold deposits, commonly found in rock formations.

Threshing

The process of separating grain or seeds from the husks or stalks.

Panning for gold

The technique of washing sediment or soil in a pan to separate gold particles.

Mazoe and Nyadiri rivers

Waterways in Zimbabwe where alluvial gold was commonly found and panned.