Land and women’s agricultural production: The context

Abstract

This chapter presents a theoretical framework from which to view gender relations to land, with particular emphasis on women’s productive-reproductive role. It describes the economic and social contexts in which the case studies representing various regions in Africa are set. Land, whether it is inherited, allotted, purchased or seized, is the most basic resource of agricultural production. Cross-cutting a woman’s economic relation to land as a producer of agricultural goods is her relation to other members of society, including her husband, children, co-wives, parents, siblings and other related kin. The assignment of labour tasks, the allocation of resources, and control over decisions reflect gender relations of production. Gender-structuring provides the legitimating process through which productive relations between the sexes are empowered. Social factors, such as attitudes toward sex and gender relations, work in tandem with economic factors in contributing to gender inequalities in relations of production. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.