FEMALE HEADS OF PATRIARCHAL HOUSEHOLDS - THE BAGGARA

This paper presents a case study of Baggara nomadic pastoralists which questions some assumptions about patrilineal and patriarchal societie s. The goal is to better understand the dynamics of gender-segregated societies and the position of managerial and economically powerful wom en. The paper examines women's networks, economic activities, and the outcome of behaviors that seem at one level contradictory to tradition ally held understandings of patriarchal societies. The case study demo nstrates how contradictory behaviors are reconcilled between the publi c and private domains so that women's economic autonomy and power are real, viable, and fostered within the broader sociocultural context.