Browsing by Author "Soko, Grace John"

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    Gender relations and the changing of the livelihood system of coastal population: a case study of Chwaka village, Zanzibar.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1999) Soko, Grace John
    This study focused on gender relations and the changing livelihood system of the coastal population. Despite government efforts to bring gender equality, women in most of the African societies specifically the coastal societies have remained under men in various respects, and hence exploited indirectly. As evidence from this study shows, the identities which determine who is who in the society are constructed by the individuals themselves, primarily through the process of socialisation as well as through the way they relate to each other. In most cases gender relations in communities carry thier own social and cultural attributes which are not static as gender relations are socially constructed and reconstructed. In this study the gender related aspects caused by the diversification of coastal production systems are discussed so as to understand the dynamics inherent in the coastal communities in relation to gender aspects. The gender division of labour and social relations among males and females at the household level and community level are examined. The impact of the traditional division of labour which has resulted to women's double role performance will also be evaluated. The study propounds that women's oppression and exploitation has resulted from patriarchy ideologies which have intensive social and cultural elements located in the socio-gender relations where there is rigidity of gender roles. Women have been found to have no access to valuable resources, decision making, power and active participation in both household and community matters. With this, therefore, in order to redress the situation, it is recommended that, programmes to educate both men and women regarding the question of gender issues are vital. This can be done through workshops and seminars in order to enable them to realise that both of them have equal access to resources, decision making, power and active participation from the household level up to the community level. Also women themselves should be aware of their role in eradicating traditional norms and values which have some oppressive elements. The government and other co-policy makers should focus on the eradication of traditional norms and values which have been inherent in many Tanzanian societies from time immemorial.