Education and perceptions of social status and power among women in Larteh, Ghana

In examining the status of women in developing countries, most research emphasizes the impact of development indicators, such as income or health, on women. This paper moves beyond development indicators by discussing women's own perceptions of social status and power in Larteh, a rural town in Ghana. This paper focuses particularly on the effects of gender and education on perceptions of social status and power. The first section provides a brief overview of the history of Ghana, which allows the reader to under-stand the current position of women in Ghana. The second section places the definitions of social status and power within an African context. The third section analyzes twenty-four interviews collected in Larteh, Ghana. The interviews asked respondents to discuss their own social status and power in relation to their community. Overall, the findings indicate that a woman's perception of increased social status and power is dependent on education and occupation. Other factors influencing perceptions of social status and power include wealth and culturally embedded positions held within the community, such as elder, chief, or priestess.