Gender-based Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities of Women’s Access to Resources in West Shewa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Gender is an issue of power relations between men and women. It refers to socially determined roles. In developing countries, especially in deep-rooted patriarchal culture, gender equality is decreasing or remains stagnant and women limited to access and control over resources. Gender-based socio-economic vulnerabilities are among the most common barriers hinder women from having power over resources. The purpose of this study was to describe challenges of women’s access and control over resources as a factor of socio-economic vulnerabilities. To this end, qualitative descriptive research design was employed. Three (3) districts (Toke Kutaye, Chaliya, and Ambo) were selected through the convenience sampling method. Seven (7) kebeles from the three districts were selected by purposive sampling. Ninety-nine (99) elders, one hundred ten (110) women, and three (3) government gender office experts, total of 212 participants were participated in the study. Instruments for data collection were an in-depth interview, key informant interview, and FGD. Data were organized thematically and qualitative content and narrative analysis were made. It was found that early marriage, polygamy, gender-based lobar division, and abduction are socio-economic challenges for women to access and control over resources. The findings suggest encouraging policies against harmful traditional practices, discouraging social norms that negatively discriminate against women through offering education on human rights and public awareness creation, and accessing women to free education, free market, start-up projects, and locally available resources. 

Keywords: Access, economic, gender, social, vulnerability