Domesticating or Working Girls Off School?

Why do girls in rural primary schools perform poorly or drop out of school? Based on a study of domestic labour demands on girls' attending rural primary schools in Kenya's Gucha District, Aungo explores various conceptual and practical linkages between gendered domestic labour and rural girls' education. The book shows how the hegemony of domesticity dominates and undermines rural girls' attendance, performance and retention in school. The author makes a case for ethnographically grounded investigations and interventions to qualitatively address the nature and extent of domesticity in schools; and identify innovative options for the re-socialization of girls. He recommends special focus on class room behaviour of teachers, restructuring of the school environment, reorientation of parenting, career-path awareness and information for girls to generate and nurture counter-domesticity practices and cultures. The book provides critical reading for researchers and advocates of girls' education whether in academia, civil society or policy making sectors in Africa and many third world communities.