ROLE OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SOMALIA. A CASE STUDY OF MOGADISHU-BANADIR REGION SOMALIA

Abstract

Modernization impacts on women in an unfavorable manner, and the solut ion is better integration of women into the economic system. This dema nd coincided with the rise of American liberal feminist movement aimed at minimizing the disadvantages of women in the productive sector. Ac ross the world, women are treated unequally and less value is placed o n their lives because of their gender. Women’s differential access to power and control of resources is central to this discrimination in al l institutional spheres that is the household, community, market, and state. Discrimination against women has resulted in violence and bruta lity on many women. In recent years, numerous occurrences demonstrate the outrageous implications resulting from gender inequality. A bias h eld by women as well as men – and of the traditional belief that women should not take elective posts reserved for men” was stated as the ma jor reason for women’s hesitancy to enter politics. (UNWOMEN report, A district comprehensive assessment of Gibley district, March 2012.) In Somali, women are systematically discriminated against and subordinat ed. They face limited inclusion in decision making structures and lead ership roles, limited access to reproductive health, higher rates of s tigmatization from HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, denial of due process rights, abuse of women's rights in divorce cases, denia l of custody of children and denial of women's rights of property owne rship and inheritance under customary law. The study therefore aimed a t identifying role of Women Empowerment in the Economic Development of Somalia. The study looked at the role of Women Political Participatio n in the Economic Development of Somalia, women accessibility to Educa tion on Economic development of Somalia and the role of reduced adoles cent fertility rate in the economic Development of Somalia. The study had a sample size of 52 respondents but only 49 returned the questionn aire. SPSS V23 was used for data analysis. The findings confirmed that there was a moderate positive correlation between the variables and p erformance only with 69.6% of the economic development changes dependi ng on the changes in the independent variables. Key terms: Development , Gender Mainstreaming, Emancipation, fertility rate , Gender, Empower ment, Gender subordination