Assessment of Gender Infl uence in Household and Resources Allocation: A Case Study Utengule - Usongwe Ward in Mbeya Rural District, Tanzania

Abstract

Th e aim of this study was to assess gender infl uence in household resource allocation in Mbeya Rural District.Th e process of resources allocation at household level involves two diff erent genders whereby male dominatesfemale in all spheres of life. It was discovered through literature that women were discriminated, oppressed anddo not access to, control and inheriting land by customary law. Th is study was carried out in Mbeya RuralDistrict, which involved 196 households comprised (of ) married, widow/widower, cohabiting and divorced inUtengule-Usongwe ward. Th e data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, Focus Group Discussionsand documentary reviews. Th e data were edited, coded, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 16.0 computerprogram. Th e qualitative data were analyzed and integrated in the report according to the objectives of thestudy.Th e fi ndings of the study revealed that, the majority of the respondents had knowledge about the culturalinfl uence in the households which discriminate and oppress women ' s rights and favour men as superior overwomen. Th e respondents were also aware about the tendency of the societies to allocate the available resourcesat household level more to boys than girls. Th e study further revealed that the majority of decision makers andheads of the households were men. However, the study confi rmed that culture plays a great role in discriminatingand oppressing women at household level. Th e fi ndings show clearly that gender inequality is mainly based inrelation to access and control over domestic resources in the household, whereby men are still dominating allsphere in the households.Basing on the fi ndings, the study recommends that there is a need to fi lter and alleviate the harmful elementsin culture which lead to ill-treatment of women and hinder women ' s rights at household level. Also there is aneed to teach statutory laws in primary and secondary schools in order to raise awareness about gender equality.