This ethnographic field work was conducted from September 15 up to December 25rnamong the Konso of Southwest Ethiopia. The main objective of the study is to analyzernthe role and status of women in the food system. With this aim, the study examines thernKonso social organization as a basis for investigating women's role in food production,rntheir access to scarce resources, role in food management and marketing, genderrndifferences in coping strategies, the pattern of food preferences, aversions and intrahouseholdrnfood consumption and its impact on them.rnThe methods used to conduct the study include: participant observation, focus grouprndiscussion, in-depth interviews with key informants, individual case studies, a structuredrnquestionnaire and photography.rnThe finding of this study reveals that hoe-farming and oxen-drawn ploughing are therndominant ways of farming although their relative importance differs from place to place.rnRegardless of technological changes, women play a vital role in crop production. Hoeing,rnmanuring, planting, weeding, harvesting and crop transportation are the majorrnagricultural activities carried out by women. The tasks conducted by men are ploughingrnwith oxen, terracing, house and granary construction, honey processing and cattlernherding.rnThough women undertake more work, the tasks of men are often considered of higherrnvalue. The finding shows that in areas where the oxen-drawn plough is used, women'srnrole in production is lower as compared to hoe-farming village. This seems due to therntechnological, social, cultural and economic changes that the Konso underwent.rnThe data show that despite women's important role in food production, they lack fullrnparticipation in grain management, marketing and decision-making regarding foodrnresources. With regard to food management, women have the right to take grain from therngranary only for daily household consumption. Therefore, women are less able to decidernnot only over food grains in the granary, but also on processed foods. Goods of greater quantity, better quality and higher cash value are marketed by men while the others arernmarketed by women. The marketing of even small amounts and low value assets takernplace only with the decision of men. In addition to the lack of rights over foodrnmanagement and marketing, women and children are more likely to be vulnerable duringrnfood-insecurity as compared to men.rnThe study shows that despite women's significant role in food production, they have veryrnlimited access to scarce household economic resources. The denial of women's rights tornresources emerges from women's marginal status in Konso society due to maledominatedrninheritance system that prevents women's access to scarce resources andrngender ideology that considers men to be superior by birth. The deprivation of their rightsrnto resources is also reflected in the consumption of food. Thus, almost all protein-richrnfoods are consumed by men, which leave women deficient in protein. In general, thernstrong position men hold socially, economically and politically has limited women'srnaccess to and control over resources