SSESSMENT OF GENDER DIVISION OF LABOR IN RURAL AGRICULTURAL AND HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES: A CASE STUDY OF WELMERA WOREDA

Abstract

In the study area, agriculture is the predominant economic activity characterized by mixed subsistence farming systems. The aim of the study was to assess gender division of labor in rural agriculture, household activities, and inspect the perceptional differential between male headed household (MHH) and female headed households (FHH) on major social constraints against women’s involvement in decision making. The necessary data were collected from three kebeles of Welmera woreda from 338 selected household (of which 235 were male HH and 103 were female HH). Two in-depth interviews (with one female KI and one male KI), and two focus group discussions (one with a group of male HHs and one with a group of female HH) were also conducted. The quantitative data were entered into computer and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Results shows that the contribution of women in both male HHs and female HHs is highly significant in agricultural and household activities. Women in female headed households had much work load than women in male headed household. In male headed households, 63.8% of them were participating in storage container preparation, and also 61.7% of them in storing process. In male headed households, male and female were equally involved in threshing ground preparation (equal 59.2%) and cutting and gathering crop (equal 52.3%). Results of the analysis indicates that women in female headed household spent a larger fraction of their time on agricultural and household activities than women in male headed household. From the results it is seen that a number of social and cultural factors govern the level of women involvement in various social sphere. The study recommends that the woreda agricultural sector and concerned bodies should create awareness on gender division of labor in agricultural and household activities to break down major social constrains and to balance the distribution of labor.