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Gender, land and responses to health and environmental shocks in rural South Western Uganda

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  • Rutakumwa, Rwamahe
  • Pain, Adam
  • Bukenya, Dominic
  • Tumwekwase, Grace
  • Ssembajja, Fatuma
  • Seeley, Janet

Abstract

We examine the gendered responses to shocks – including HIV-related illness and death, and environmental factors such as drought or too much rain – and how women in south western Uganda navigate structural barriers such as the gender constraints in land ownership, to cope with the impact of shocks. The study is based on data drawn from households selected from a General Population Cohort of 20,000 people in Kalungu District. As part of a larger study investigating the impact of HIV on agricultural livelihoods, 22 households were purposively sampled for a qualitative study. These households were stratified by sex of household head and by a death having occurred/not occurred of an HIV-positive individual in the household. Our findings show the gendered dimensions in household responses to crises are shaped by women and men’s position in the social structure in general and within their families and households. Women can make effective use of their social relations to obtain material support and information to improve their family’s livelihood.

Suggested Citation

  • Rutakumwa, Rwamahe & Pain, Adam & Bukenya, Dominic & Tumwekwase, Grace & Ssembajja, Fatuma & Seeley, Janet, 2017. "Gender, land and responses to health and environmental shocks in rural South Western Uganda," Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security (Agri-Gender), Africa Centre for Gender, Social Research and Impact Assessment, vol. 2(2), April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:afgend:265534
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.265534
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    Cited by:

    1. Andersson Djurfeldt, Agnes, 2020. "Gendered land rights, legal reform and social norms in the context of land fragmentation - A review of the literature for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).

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