The Maasai are a semi-nomadic, pastoralist ethnic group inhabiting Tanzania and Kenya. They believe in the concept of “manhood” or mataifa through which men are considered to be the owners of cattle and women are considered to be their dependents.

This means that Maasai men have the power to determine how many wives a woman can marry and how much property she will inherit. The Maasai do not allow for divorce, leaving women with no chance to reclaim their autonomy if they wish to leave their husbands.

On top of these patriarchal beliefs, traditional Maasai culture has long been plagued by violence against women. Men coerce girls into marriage by following them at home and outside where they must quickly but discreetly marry them so as not to be caught by other men who might object.

If a girl is unable to find someone willing to marry her at home then she is sent back to her father’s house where she becomes an.

In addition to being very traditional in nature, the Maasai also hold onto many superstitions which further contribute to the ritualization of violence against women. For example, during the circumcision ceremony, girls are often raped and violated by the circumcised man before he is allowed to spend time with his wife.

The practise of marrying off girls is a dangerous problem facing the Maasai. This practice has been documented in the past by UNICEF and other organizations, but it continues to be prevalent.

Women who are married off at younger ages become more susceptible to domestic abuse and are less likely to leave their marriage because they have no way of escaping without being shunned by society. As a result, this practice has had an immense impact on Maasai women’s well-being.

The effects on a woman's life depend not only on her age but also on the age of her husband. A woman aged 15-19 will experience a drop in status if married to a man who is between the ages of 18 and 20, whereas a woman aged 20-24 will experience an increase in status if married to a man who is between 25-30 years old.  Being married to Maasai men can result in greater restrictions than being single. The men can control where their wives go and what they do, which can significantly impact their lives.

The most common effect of marriage for girls is that it eliminates their freedom. Young women are forced into marriage as soon as they reach puberty, which often results in pregnancy before they have had any say in the matter. In this way, marriage effectively erases any hope of pursuing their own dreams or goals outside of their husband's household.

The Maasai are considered the most dangerous tribe in Africa because they have long been known for their patriarchal beliefs and violence against women. Men have reported coercing girls into marriage by following them at home and outside where they must quickly but discreetly marry them so as not to be caught by other men who might object. This practice has left many girls unable to find someone willing to marry them.

But, despite being forced into marriage, many Maasai girls eventually find a way out of this situation. They can run away from home by going to a nearby town or joining another community that is more accepting of women such as the Samburu Tribe in Kenya. Others choose to be castrated so that they no longer need their husbands in order to live independently.

To learn more about the Maasai, check out the article "What you need to know about the Maasai."

There are many ways to diminish the severity of this issue. For example, education can be a solution in that it could teach Maasai people about the rights of women and what consent means.

Education on abortion would also allow for women to have more control over their own bodies, which is one strategy that has been shown to be effective in countries like Tanzania where abortion is illegal.

Additionally, the United Nations Population Fund notes that female literacy rates are more likely to increase among those individuals who live in areas with good healthcare and education.

Furthermore, they state that when females have access to the education they have better opportunities in life and are less likely to conceive children out of wedlock or get pregnant before marriage.

As a result, we can see how education and healthcare can help decrease violence against women among the Maasai if implemented on a large scale.

Despite the prevalence of violence against women in traditional Maasai culture, there is one law that has a positive impact on the lives of these women.

The Marriage Act of 1929 made it possible for women to divorce their husbands if they were married before then and so was the case with a woman’s consent.

The adoption bill, which was passed in 2015, provides protection to girls by making it illegal for a man to marry someone under the age of 18. The bill also includes provisions that would allow girls to leave their marriages if they wanted.

Despite the efforts of the adoption bill, Maasai culture has been unable to adjust because of their belief in “manhood” and the lack of female autonomy. They believe that women should be married off as soon as possible so that there is no time for them to grow into adults who have more power than their husbands. In order to break this cycle, it will take time for traditional Maasai culture to evolve with changing social norms and laws.

The Maasai are an ancient tribe that live in Northern Tanzania. The Maasai have a deep history that has been influenced by the harsh African climate and their location in Africa.

Today, the Maasai tribesmen live a life that is traditional and oftentimes dangerous for women. The Maasai culture is one of violence and oppression where girls are often forced into marriage. One of the main problems is the low rate of education among the tribe which leads to many of the girls not being able to make the right decision for their future.

The Maasai have taken some steps towards improving their community and their culture but in order to truly fix this issue, they need help from other countries in Africa and throughout the world.