The Gender Dimensions of Povertyt: The Case of Intra Household in Addis Ababa (Addis Ketema Sub City)
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Gender dimension of poverty largely examined in relation to head of the households, comparing female headed with that of male-headed households. Intra household poverty issues largely have gone unexamined.
Owing to this gap, the thesis has objectives to asses the Gender dimension of poverty in the case of intra household arena, examine wives’ and husbands’ access to and control over resources, power relation, roles and responsibilities, vulnerability to risks and other related matters, so as to investigate whether women are disadvantaged or poorer than their male counterparts.
The research is done in Addis Ababa, Addis Ketema sub city ‘Amanueal Sefer’. It is one of the disadvantaged areas in the city and large numbers of poor residents are living. The research design involves the use of both primary and secondary data. In this study more of qualitative methods are utilized. Added to this simple percentages were also used. Primary data is generated through interview, focus group discussions and to some extent observations. Married couples with children both sons and daughters were selected considering their age differential and living conditions. A total of thirty-three households were selected for interview, couples from each household were interviewed. A total of thirty-two women and men were also involved in the Focus Group Discussions. Secondary data were generated from books and other related researches.
Findings of the study show that in most of the cases women have disadvantaged position comparing with their male counterparts. They are the one who carried out major household responsibilities and very much responsible for the sustenance of the households. Yet they have low access to and control over households’ resources. Among the workingwomen most of them have low controlling power over the income they generated. Even if women have greater responsibility for household matters, it is their husbands who are major decision-makers. Women are also very much vulnerable in times of difficulty than their husbands. Most of the time women are disadvantaged and poorer than their husbands. The societal norm, women’s self concept and the culture play significant roles to keep women in disadvantaged position
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Gender Studies