In many places throughout the developing world, women have a central role in growing food crops, collecting water and fuel-wood, and using materials from plants, trees, and marine ecosystems to prepare medicines for their families or products for sale in markets (WWF, 2002c). For example, women in sub-Saharan Africa are the backbone of the agricultural sector, accounting for 70% of agricultural labour and being responsible for 60% of agricultural production and 80% of food production (Kabeer, 1994). Yet this critical work is often overlooked and many women have little opportunity to participate in decisions about their community’s natural resources or join training and capacity-building initiatives designed to promote sustainable resource management (WWF, 2002c). This dissertation seeks to argue that rural women in Madagascar are very important in the management of natural resources; indeed this is one of the main aspects conservationists have to deal with when considering the sustainable use of natural resources (WWF, 2002c; UN, 2000; Ngong and Arrey, 2003).
Having discussed the major areas of rural women’s work in Africa and their implications for the environment, this dissertation will explore the role of rural women in Madagascar to exemplify the issues associated with resource use in a biodiversity hotspot. First, general research on the topic will be introduced followed by a specific case study of Antandroy women in Analoalo, a village in the Spiny Forest of South-Eastern Madagascar. The dissertation will conclude by examining the importance of women in the use of natural resources and ways in which they could be integrated into sustainable rural development. The question of how rural women can be involved in the conservation of their local environment has become a contentious issue (Rodda, 1991; UN, 2000) and one which needs to be explored. It should be noted that any efforts to involve rural women in conservation projects also need to concentrate on improving the quality of life in rural areas in general, including a sustainable rural economy.
Before exploring the case study, I review the major areas of the work of rural women in sub-Saharan Africa showing how closely linked it is to their use of natural resources. Further, the implications for conservation will be highlighted.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1:
INTRODUCTION
Rural women in sub-Saharan Africa and their roles
Conservation, environmental degradation and rural women
Chapter 2:
RURAL WOMEN IN MADAGASCAR
Introduction to Madagascar
Rural women in Madagascar – their responsibilities and natural resource use
Rural women in Madagascar, natural resources and conservation issues
Chapter 3:
CASE STUDY – ANTANDROY WOMEN IN ANALOALO
Introduction to Southern Madagascar
Women in Analoalo and natural resource use
Chapter 4:
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This dissertation examines the vital role of rural women in Madagascar regarding the management and sustainable use of natural resources. It investigates the link between the socioeconomic status of these women, their daily survival tasks, and environmental conservation, aiming to provide recommendations for integrating them into sustainable rural development strategies.
- The central role of rural women in natural resource management.
- Challenges related to socioeconomic factors, education, and poverty.
- The importance of integrating women into conservation initiatives in biodiversity hotspots.
- Case study analysis of Antandroy women in the village of Analoalo.
- Strategies for sustainable rural development and community participation.
Excerpt from the Book
Rural women in sub-Saharan Africa and their roles
The types of work that rural women do in sub-Saharan Africa are all crucial to keeping the family, as well as the rural economy, alive. Women commonly use natural resources in all areas of their work. These can be distinguished as: survival tasks, work in the household, and income generation.
Survival tasks are those essential for daily life, and it is for these that women are largely responsible. They grow food crops, provide water, gather fuel and perform most of the other work that sustains the family. Women in Africa do up to three-quarters of all agricultural work in addition to their domestic responsibilities (UN Economic Commission for Africa; Rodda, 1991). Figures 1 and 2 show the division of rural labour between men and women. Women are generally responsible for regular sowing, weeding, crop maintenance and harvesting, as long as these tasks have not been mechanised (Rodda, 1991). Subsistence agriculture – the growing of food crops – is almost exclusively a women’s task. But women’s participation is increasing in cash-cropping as well. Care of small animals is also often their responsibility. Men, on the other hand, generally look after sporadic field preparation (Dankelman and Davidson, 1988).
In sub-Saharan Africa, women play a vital role as both water-suppliers and water-managers. They are responsible for collecting water and for controlling its use; they also oversee the sanitary arrangements. Water is needed by the family for drinking, domestic purposes, personal hygiene and sanitation, as well as for agricultural uses and the many processes involved in food production and craftwork. Collecting water may be a tiring and arduous task that usually needs to be undertaken several times each day and can take many hours (Rodda, 1991).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter contextualizes the essential, yet often overlooked, role of women in environmental management across sub-Saharan Africa and introduces the research focus on Madagascar.
RURAL WOMEN IN MADAGASCAR: This chapter provides an overview of the ecological context of Madagascar and details the gendered division of labour, responsibilities, and the constraints faced by rural women in the country.
CASE STUDY – ANTANDROY WOMEN IN ANALOALO: This chapter presents a specific case study of women in the village of Analoalo in Southern Madagascar, documenting their daily activities, reliance on natural resources, and local efforts toward organization.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This chapter synthesizes the research findings to propose that integrating women into sustainable rural development through organized groups and participatory approaches is essential for effective environmental conservation.
Keywords
Rural women, Madagascar, natural resource management, conservation, sustainability, Antandroy, Analoalo, Spiny Forest, environmental degradation, gender inequality, sustainable development, community participation, women's associations, biodiversity hotspot, rural development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research explores the critical relationship between rural women and the environment, focusing specifically on their roles in natural resource management in Madagascar.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work covers gendered divisions of labor, the socioeconomic constraints impacting women, the impact of rural poverty on environmental practices, and strategies for sustainable rural development.
What is the main research objective?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that rural women are key agents in resource management and to argue that they must be integrated into conservation strategies to achieve long-term sustainability.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The study primarily utilizes Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods, including interviews and data collection with villagers, to document the daily lives and resource use of the target population.
What is examined in the main body of the text?
The body text covers regional roles of women in Africa, the specific ecological and social landscape of Madagascar, and a detailed case study of the Antandroy women in Analoalo.
How would you characterize this work with keywords?
The work is defined by themes such as sustainable natural resource management, gender roles in agriculture, community-based development, and environmental conservation in biodiversity hotspots.
How does the Spiny Forest ecological context influence the women's lives?
The harsh, dry environment of the Spiny Forest necessitates intense labor for daily tasks like water and fuel-wood collection, which, combined with rapid deforestation, creates significant time poverty for women.
Why is the formation of women's associations recommended?
Establishing these networks allows women to discuss their specific needs, access training, engage in income-generating activities, and participate more effectively in community-wide decision-making processes.
- Quote paper
- BA (Oxon), Dip Psych (Open) Christine Langhoff (Author), 2004, Women and Resource Use - A study of rural women in a spiny desert region in Madagascar, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80233
