Assessing the Negative Stereotypes and Marginalization of Craft Worker’s in North Gonder, Ethiopia
Abstract
The purpose of this study was assessing effect of negative stereotypes and marginalization on craft workers living in North Gonder. The study has been carried out in six purposely selected villages in north Gonder. A cross sectional qualitative method was employed (in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussion) involving a total of 44 participants 30 key informant, and 4 FGD comprising 10 individuals in each group through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Accordingly, the causes for marginalization of craft workers are mainly socio-cultural constructions retained in negative stereotypes, and evil eye ideology stemmed from the perception of the non-craft worker society. Generally, those Craft-workers historically in Ethiopian history marginalized by those non craft workers in many ways such as, restriction in many social institutions, and social segregation. Currently, some types of marginalization are declining and hence there is spatial integration and intermarriage. Finally it is recommended that, interventions are needed like public and religious teaching to change the belief of the society, promoting ‘those indigenous hand crafts workers’ and the government design policy related to marginalized negative stereotypes of craft workers and programs to teach the society about equality.
Keywords: Marginalization, Segregation, Craft worker, Potter, Tanner, negative stereotype.
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