From: The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples/Ethiopians/John Sorenson
Although in Ethiopia certain political movements opposed to the central government formed organizations dedicated to the emancipation of women and contributed to a new understanding of gender relations, attitudes of male superiority remain widespread both in the homeland and among Ethiopians in Canada. This cultural characteristic is reflected in the disparate educational levels of the two sexes, and in other areas too. Practices such as circumcision and infibulation have created serious health problems for women, and domestic violence is recognized as a common problem by community activists. Authoritarian methods of child-rearing, including physical punishment, also mark Ethiopian family life.
All that said, family ties are important to all the people of Ethiopia. In this regard, one of the Ethiopians’ strongest cultural values is respect for elders. Only a minority of Ethiopians, however, have sought to bring elderly parents to Canada, believing that they should remain within the culture they know.
