Gender dynamics in poverty alleviation in Tanzania: Ngara district case study.
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Date
2002
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study sought to examine how social-economic gender issues impact on the development of households in order to inform a successful poverty alleviation initiative. The thesis underlying the study was that poverty at household level was generated and experienced differently for both men and women through gender dynamics and in ways, which were not adequately explored. The study concentrated on four areas: to study the socio-economic environment of Ngara district in a historical continuum; to produce theoretical and experiential evidence on the nature and character of male power and powerlessness, which required a correct empowerment approach against poverty; to find out differential empowerment needs of men and women in their struggles against poverty; and to attempt a general framework for empowerment procedures against poverty. The study adopted the critical gender methodology using the quantitative and qualitative approaches. Nevertheless the study fails to provide support to the hypotheses. It was actually found that women's poverty was openly exacerbated by patriarchal power and especially its limitations so that women's empowerment was linked to engaging patriarchy than ignoring it. This situation reflects the crisis of patriarchy that triggers off the mounting of challenges by women, children and youth. Patriarchs needed empowerment related to psychological and functional behaviour. These included leadership and managerial capabilities as well as entrepreneurial skills. A common framework (COPAP1) was generated that would take care of men and women's concerns respectively without sacrificing any interests. In the final conclusion it is argued, that men encumbered women's life chances because men were themselves helpless and trapped in a culture that seemingly favoured them without any meaningful agency to guide them.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HQ1786.T34N42)
Keywords
Women, Social condition, History and condition, Economic condition
Citation
Ngaiza, M. K. (2002). Gender dynamics in poverty alleviation in Tanzania: Ngara district case study. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.