Gender differentials in the coping strategies of the Urban poor in addis ababa: the case of households in Woreda 4, gulele sub-city

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Date

2011-07

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Addis Ababauniversity

Abstract

Poverty has many dimensions. Social aspect of poverty is one indicator of deprivation existing in society. The main objective of the study is to compare and contrast the living condition and the coping and survival strategies used by female and male headed household in the study area. The analysis of the study was based on 236 households, of which 144 are male headed and 92 female headed households. Questionnaires were distributed to households in the study area and interviews were conducted with some household head informants. The data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study has found out that a large proportion of the households in the study area are challenged with lack of access to services like housing, water supply, cleansing, health service and the problem of food shortage. All the indicators of poverty used in the research also pointed out the poor living condition in the study area. However, such problems are found to be more severe among households headed by females. Female headed households are characterized by an even worse living condition when compared with male headed households. Poor living condition, lack of access to basic amenities and inability to meet basic needs have forced the poor to come up with ways to enable them cope and survive harsh economic times. Some of the strategies used by the poor households in the study area are diversifying income by engaging oneself, spouse or children in income generating activities, selling property, adapting a new eating habit which is characterized by low quality and quantity, reducing expenditure on non food items, relying on social network selling, renting and sub renting of assets. The use of survival strategies shows difference among the different gender of household heads. The most frequently used strategies in female headed households are cutting back on consumption (75.4%) and borrowing food or cash from friends, relatives and neighbors (49.2%). Comparatively in male headed households cutting back on consumption (60.7%), and engaging oneself/spouse in different income generating activities are most frequently used. Choice of livelihood strategy is found to be influenced by the marital status of head, level of asset ownership and the level and strength of community ties and social networks

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Case of households

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