list of figures - Terry Sunderland

7.5.3 Socio-economic profile of the urban artisans
7.5.3.1 Age range
In general, rattan enterprises are operated by relatively young to middle-aged men, the
majority of whom are married (70% +). Many of the older artisans interviewed
suggested that the work was very much for younger, fitter men and that as they have
become older, their work outputs, and subsequent profits, have decreased. Unlike
many rural artisans for whom rattan transformation is often a secondary activity to
farming, urban-based artisans are almost always engaged on a full-time basis.
Figure 107. Age range of the primary owner / worker
no. of respondents (n = 174 )
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
60
Age range
7.5.3.2 Gender
Although Ndoye (1994) reports that women are sometimes involved in harvesting
activities, this is relatively rare (Defo, 1997; 1999; Sunderland 1998; 1999a; 1999b).
Correspondingly, the processing and transformation of rattan is predominantly a male
activity, however, some women are involved in the weaving of baskets, notably in
Bamenda.
7.5.3.3 Ethnicity
The ethnic background of the urban artisans is extremely variable and in all of the
urban markets studied, there is no domination by any single ethnic group in rattan
processing and transformation. This is particularly the case in the larger towns and
cities, which have a tendency to be more cosmopolitan. However, somewhat
unsurprisingly, a pattern does emerge that a greater proportion of artisans within an
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