AFRICAN-CENTERED GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION: A CASE OF TANZANIA AND ETHIOPIA (pp.73-83)
ABSTRACT
The gender roles and relationships are not fixed, but change constantly in the light of evolving needs, opportunities, changing environments and societal developments. There are still remarkable differences between the women and men access to assets, decision-making, power and participation in productive and reproductive activities in most societies. The cultural expectations of the roles and behaviour of women and men identified as one of the important options to consider in reducing vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity in the agricultural sector. Such vulnerability differs among women and men, by virtue of their social roles and status. Unlike in western countries, African women are more vulnerable and poor. Women‘s vulnerability is exacerbated by the cultural mores and political obstacles that regularly limit their ability to advocate for their own needs and take advantage of emerging opportunities. The study revealed that gender cannot be studied and addressed without taking into consideration its specific socio-cultural setting at a specific moment in time. It was indicated that adaptation activities are better expressed through and directed toward those performing particular tasks on the basis of women‗s and men‘s involvement, access and control over resources. Such gender differences should be acknowledged in the adaptation process to avoid gender inequality in women, which are more disadvantaged. Gender mainstreaming as a process need to consider local and regional social formation and relations and requires an efficient implementing tools and methods that centred on the needs and wishes of the beneficiaries and harmonized with their specific socio-cultural context.