Gender Studies in Addis Ababa

Pauline Rankin, director of the School of Canadian Studies, recently returned from Africa where she has been engaged in the development of a new MA program.

Rankin spent three weeks in December in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia teaching two courses, Feminist Theory, and Gender and Public Policy, at the University of Addis Ababa. The courses are among the first offered in a recently launched MA in Gender Studies.

“One interesting difference from teaching gender studies in Canada was that over a third of the Ethiopian students were male and their commitment to gender studies and women’s equality was particularly impressive,” said Rankin. “I think men’s interest in gender studies in Ethiopia stems from their understanding that improvements in women’s status are key to the overall development of the society.”

In addition to teaching a class of 50, Rankin began work with the local professors that will eventually provide them with the foundation to deliver the program on their own. Her experience in Ethiopia was not limited to the classroom. She also presented a daylong seminar on Gender and Public Sector Reform targeted to senior civil servants.

“Teaching in that context was quite challenging as Addis Ababa has experienced significant political unrest in recent months and the University had been closed for an extended period just prior to my visit,” said Rankin.

Rankin will return to Addis Ababa next December to complete two more graduate courses and further the public sector reform initiatives.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) approached Rankin and asked her to assist them in working with Ethiopian university administrators to develop this new graduate program. Not only is the Gender Studies MA the first at the University of Addis Ababa, it is the first of its kind in the country.