Failed Democratisation and Female Empowerment: The Case of Eritrea

The chapter investigates the long-term relationship between the patriarchal system and women’s empowerment in Eritrea. Women in Eritrea underwent a ‘forced emancipation’ mainly attributable to the liberation struggle, and the policies promoted by the current ruling party. The differing mortality rates in terms of gender, mobilisation, and migration within the Eritrean population have resulted in women having greater responsibility and power in society. This has shifted the roles of women from those that tradition had given, despite their experiences in the national liberation struggle and the existence of national policies that promote gender equality in Eritrea. Therefore, this paper offers a counter-narrative that highlights colonial and liberation periods and moves beyond it to pay more attention to independent Eritrea (1991-2018), which is less explored in literature, particularly in relation to the link between the (failed) democratisation process and patriarchy’s dilution.