Ethiopia’s Third Class Citizens

Abstract

Ethiopia is a country that is shaped by societal and cultural norms which perpetuate the subordination of Ethiopian women as a way of life. Present issues that continue to plague Ethiopian women include Female Genital Mutilation, Early Marriage, Lack of Adequate Maternal Healthcare, Gender Violence, Lack of Access to Education, Economic and Land Ownership Issues and Lack of Political Participation of Women in the Ethiopian Government. All of these women’s rights issues are both irreprehensible human rights violations and a threat to human security. While most of these practices are against the law, many continue to benefit from these cultural practices, therefore the law is not enforced.