Ethiopian women and safety: why some switch their ethnic identity when they start working

Ethnicity can be consciously adjusted in response to the risks women face in public spaces.

By: Monica Beeder, University of Southampton, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 20, 2026

Words: 1,207

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Monica Beeder, University of Southampton

For many women in Ethiopia, getting their first formal job doesn’t just change their income; it can change how they describe who they are in everyday public interactions.

In a country where ethnicity shapes access to opportunities, safety and political rights, this shift is far from small.

That is the provocative finding of our recent study: formal employment can cause women to switch their self-reported ethnicity. We are …

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