European capitalism and colonialism penetrated many parts of the world, with profound effects on pre-capitalist social formations in the affected societies. It is against this backdrop, that the pastoralist Maasai of East Africa found themselves transformed and deformed as they encountered the new system. Unlike many other societies, however, the Maasai have been represented as "conservative" and impervious to the transformational process. This book provides a historical analysis of gender relations in the Maasai society. It identifies the transformational processes that have contributed to the changed position of pastoralists in general and that of Maasai women in particular, and assesses the implications of these transformations for the development of pastoral women and men.

1. Maasai. 2. Women, Maasai. 3. Women ? Kenya ? History.