The Precarious Socio-Economic Position of Women in Rural Africa: The Case of the Kaguru of Tanzania

Ethnographic interviews in this study were conducted among rural Kaguru women in Tanzania. The interview subject material pertained to family relationships land holding customs household power structures and other social and familial practices that might constrain access to resources. The effectiveness of women in development programs will depend on whether the aforementioned features are accounted for. Investment in education among Kaguru girls may depend upon the resources of the household. If parents must limit their educational investment boys tend to be preferred. The cost of educating girls is considered higher because girls may become pregnant and discontinue their education because girls normally assist with household chores and because girls will eventually become part of another household after marriage. Kaguru women are responsible for both domestic chores and household food production. Domestic activities are usually time consuming and there is little opportunity for income generation. Cash cropping is not possible because of lack of land ownership. Petty trading has become one of the few avenues for cash generation. Social and development policies must be directed to increasing agricultural output to reducing womens household work and to overcoming the cultural barriers that prevent women from improving their economic position. Policies must improve womens land tenure. Divorced or separated women must be given a share in family property. Gender biases specifically dealing with husbands control over wives labor and income must be addressed. The gender inequalities among Kaguru women are typical of many African women.