Pounders of Grain

Women, through their work, community, and family activities, have been a central part of Mozambique's history. Pounders of Grain is a history of women in Mozambique, beginning in the mid-19th century with description of a variety of rural societies and ending with the impact of structural adjustment and processes of democratization at the end of the 20th century. Beginning with a discussion of matrilineal and patrilineal kinship systems, and women's contributions to the social and economic life of their communities, the book then moves on to cover women's experiences of Portugese colonialism, focusing on changes in their work environment and the advent of mission education. Women's involvement in the liberation struggle and their independence, is highlighted by specific policies that brought improvement to women's lives. That is followed by examinations of the 1980s and 1990s, including the devastating war with Renamo, and the impact of structural adjustment programs on women's work and politics.;The book is inclusive of all regions in Mozambique and emphasizes the centrality of women's choices and decisions to the development of Mozambican society, demonstrating that without the inclusion of women, the history of Mozambique remains incomplete. It is the only history to date of women in Mozambique, and one of the only country-specific histories of women in Africa.