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What does it Mean to Make a ‘Joint’ Decision? Unpacking Intra-household Decision Making in Agriculture: Implications for Policy and Practice

Author

Listed:
  • Mariola Acosta
  • Margit van Wessel
  • Severine van Bommel
  • Edidah L. Ampaire
  • Jennifer Twyman
  • Laurence Jassogne
  • Peter H. Feindt

Abstract

Strategies to empower women in development contexts frequently address their authority to take decisions within their household, including decisions that are taken jointly by couples. Assessing empowerment in joint decision-making has traditionally followed a dichotomous approach: decisions are either joint or not, with the former associated with women’s empowerment. This paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the empowerment effects of joint decision-making, based on case study data from Uganda. We present survey data revealing significant gender differences in perception of decision-making over the adoption of agricultural practices and consumption expenses. Women reported joint decision-making more often than men, who presented themselves more as sole decision makers. We supplement the survey data with an in-depth study in Lodi village, where we reconstruct meanings attached to joint decision-making using focus group discussions, a decision-making game and participant observation. Reported joint decision-making included a range of practices from no conversation among partners to conversations where female spouse’s ideas are considered but the man has the final say. The findings suggest that local interpretations of joint decision-making, in at least this case of a dominantly patriarchal context, can limit its potential for assessing women’s empowerment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariola Acosta & Margit van Wessel & Severine van Bommel & Edidah L. Ampaire & Jennifer Twyman & Laurence Jassogne & Peter H. Feindt, 2020. "What does it Mean to Make a ‘Joint’ Decision? Unpacking Intra-household Decision Making in Agriculture: Implications for Policy and Practice," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(6), pages 1210-1229, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:56:y:2020:i:6:p:1210-1229
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2019.1650169
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    Cited by:

    1. Sevias Guvuriro & Frederik Booysen, 2021. "Family‐type public goods and intra‐household decision‐making by co‐resident South African couples," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 1629-1647, August.
    2. Hasanbasri, Ardina & Koolwal, Gayatri & Kilic, Talip & Moylan, Heather, 2021. "Multidimensionality of Land Ownership Among Men and Women in Sub-Saharan Africa," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315317, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Kihara, Job & Manda, Julius & Kimaro, Anthony & Swai, Elirehema & Mutungi, Christopher & Kinyua, Michael & Okori, Patrick & Fischer, Gundula & Kizito, Fred & Bekunda, Mateete, 2022. "Contributions of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) to various sustainable intensification impact domains in Tanzania," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    4. Katie Tavenner & Todd A. Crane, 2022. "Hitting the target and missing the point? On the risks of measuring women’s empowerment in agricultural development," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(3), pages 849-857, September.
    5. Basharat Ali & Peter Dahlhaus, 2022. "The Role of FAIR Data towards Sustainable Agricultural Performance: A Systematic Literature Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Le Kien & Nguyen My, 2021. "How Education Empowers Women in Developing Countries," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 21(2), pages 511-536, April.
    7. Lecoutere, Els & Chu, Lan, 2021. "Changing intrahousehold decision making to empower women in their households: a mixed methods analysis of a field experiment in rural south-west Tanzania," IOB Discussion Papers 2021.06, Universiteit Antwerpen, Institute of Development Policy (IOB).
    8. Hasanbasri,Ardina Roosiany & Kilic,Talip & Koolwal,Gayatri B. & Moylan,Heather G., 2022. "Individual Wealth Inequality : Measurement and Evidence from Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9987, The World Bank.
    9. Euler, Michael & Jaleta, Moti & Gartaula, Hom, 2024. "Associations between women’s bargaining power and the adoption of rust-resistant wheat varieties in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    10. Mamadou Sanogo & Roland Yonaba & Abdou Lawane & Malicki Zorom & Fonzia Tassembédo & Hamed Ali Sahad & Isidore Bazié, 2024. "Do Runoff Water Harvesting Ponds Affect Farmers Cropping Choices? Insights from Smallholders in the West African Sahel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.
    11. Tsegaye Ginbo & Helena Hansson, 2023. "Intra-household risk perceptions and climate change adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 50(3), pages 1039-1063.
    12. Els Lecoutere & Lan Chu, 2024. "Supporting women's empowerment by changing intra‐household decision‐making: A mixed‐methods analysis of a field experiment in rural south‐west Tanzania," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 42(3), May.
    13. Balayar, Ramesh & Mazur, Robert, 2021. "Women’s decision-making roles in vegetable production, marketing and income utilization in Nepal’s hills communities," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    14. Hillesland, Marya & Slavchevska, Vanya & Henderson, Heath & Okello, Patrick & Oumo, Flavia Naiga, 2020. "Beyond the sex of the holder: understanding agricultural production decisions within household farms in Uganda," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 338764, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    15. Powell Mponela & Julius Manda & Michael Kinyua & Job Kihara, 2023. "Participatory Action Research, Social Networks, and Gender Influence Soil Fertility Management in Tanzania," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 141-163, February.

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