Paper short abstract:

The relation between marital status and livelihoods in Shashemene, Ethiopia is studied through retrospective life event histories 1973-2008 that covers livelihood "careers", migration paths and marital and reproductive events. There are more livelihood opportunities, still in the informal sector.

Paper long abstract:

This paper deals with the livelihood opportunities that present themselves to women from different cohorts and origins during the life course, and how they relate to the women's marital and reproductive histories. The paper is based on data from the town of Shashemene, 250 km South of Addis Abeba in Ethiopia. Two comparable random sample surveys of households were collected in 1973 and in 2008. The data analysed in the paper are life event histories focussing on migration trajectories and livelihood (1973) and on migration, livelihood, and partner and child histories (2008). Heads of household (male and female) and wives of 144 and 350 households were interviewed. Census data from 1994 and 2007 complement the survey data. Life history interviews with a small number of persons facilitate analysis. There is virtually no formal employment of women in neither sample. Like most men women are active in the informal sector. But there is more variation in the livelihoods available to women now than before the revolution and they are better equipped to manage their economic activities with a much higher rate of literacy. Our respondents in 2008 are also more open about their business lives. A general picture in 2008 of slower marital turnover and fewer relations during the life time gives an indication of more stable marital relations and, maybe, a less unequal balance of power