An adage in Ethiopia's Oromiya region warns people to be careful
around an uncircumcised woman because "she will break
everything." But proverbs can evolve over time and no longer be
accepted as true. As communities become more educated, they may
update their perspective. In one village in Oromiya, future
proverbs may reflect the wisdom of educating women and the
changes in communities when this occurs. Like many places,
Southwest Shewa in Oromiya has a history of practices that harm
women. Traditional culture here often oppresses women, whether
involving female circumcision (genital mutilation), early
marriage, abduction, battery, or the inheritance of a wife upon
the death of her husband. What is called "culture" often
reflects matters of convenience. The abduction of women for
marriage has increased as the economy has declined, since
husbands no longer want to pay for weddings and dowries.
Inheriting a wife from a dead relative is another way of keeping
land in the family. An economy of subjugation serves