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Occidental College

Publication Date

Fall 2007

Program Name

Senegal: Arts and Culture

Abstract

In May of 2007, the Senegalese Ministry for Family and Female Entrepreneurship in collaboration with a private car dealership, Espace-Auto, announced plans for the Taxi-Sister program, which introduced ten women into the taxi driving profession. The first ten women, who hit the streets in September 2007, are considered a test-run for the program, as the Ministry seeks to expand women’s roles in Senegalese society and presence in the economic sector. The program is considered to be both an effort to address women’s poverty and to establish a feminine presence in professions formerly reserved for men.

This study attempts to describe how the program is structured, how it affects the women participating, and whether or not it can actually be considered an anti-poverty and female empowerment initiative, as it is framed by the Ministry. Additionally, I sought to determine what relationship the Taxi Sisters have with their male counterparts. Through field interviews with officials involved in the program, with taxi sisters, and with male taxi drivers, I attempted to gain insight into the program to answer these questions.

Disciplines

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Inequality and Stratification

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