Abstract
This study set out to explore the effects of gender division of labour on boys and girls in the rural area of Medig, Metta in Cameroon. The main activity of parents in this area is farming. Children, besides going to school, have a role in the household work and they also assist their parents on their farms. Combining household chores and farm work with studies affect the education of the children. The study revealed that in addition to the need for labour, poverty and cultural beliefs of rural parents have contributed to the decision to put their children in domestic and farm activities, bringing about gender division of labour. Gender determined roles continue even in school.
Feminist and Maslow‟s theories were used to guide the findings of gender division of labour between the children in Medig. The Feminist theories helped to explain the reasons behind gender discrimination in work type, while Maslow‟s theory focused on the psycho-social dilemmas children face when motivation and encouragement is lacking in the home and in their learning process.
The data for the study was collected from primary and secondary sources. Qualitative research method was employed in the collection of the primary data. These sources helped in the assessment of gender division of labour in Medig from the perceptive of parents, teachers and pupils through oral interviews with the aid of semi-structured questions.
The results showed that gender division of labour between the children is part of the social relations between parents and children. It is a way of transmitting their culture to the children such that, it remains inevitable for their livelihoods and the upbringing of children. This leads to the relegation of education to a secondary position if not total neglect.