Ethical gender issues and household food security: a case of the Iraqw Tribe, Karatu district, Tanzania

The study explored the ethical issues in the gender system of the Iraqw people regarding household food security in Karatu District. The study was conducted in Qaru, and Endamarariek wards. A number of issues, challenges and effects together with the way of solving them have been identified by this study. The study employed a mixed methods approach whereby both qualitative and quantitative data were collected, the data was collected through interviews, questionnaire, focus group discussions and documentary review. The study’s sample was 89 respondents obtained through simple systematic and purposive random sampling methods. The responses were processed and analyzed mostly through qualitative approach and quantitative approach was used only to show frequencies and percentages in tables. The findings show that, women and children experience unethical issues of injustice and inequality during the time of food security where men mismanaged to budget the food for the household leading to food insecurity. The findings also show that women and children work together to produce food but at the end after harvest they have no say. Food is essential for the survival of human beings, hunger results from neglect of the universal right to food due to mismanagement of power in the gender system is deemed as an unethical act. Therefore the study makes two conclusions first, the lack of involvement, participation and decision making of women in the household budget leads to food insecurity and its effect. Second, there is a need to provide education on the involvement of women in decision making during the household food budgeting. One recommendation is made in order to overcome the challenges and effects of food insecurity, women should not be left aside during the time of food budgeting of the household rather the government and nongovernmental organizations should support the community food security strategy at both household and community level.