Assessment of Gender Infl uence in Household and Resources Allocation: A Case Study Utengule - Usongwe Ward in Mbeya Rural District, Tanzania

Abstract

Th e aim of this study was to assess gender infl uence in household resource allocation in Mbeya Rural District.
Th e process of resources allocation at household level involves two diff erent genders whereby male dominates
female in all spheres of life. It was discovered through literature that women were discriminated, oppressed and
do not access to, control and inheriting land by customary law. Th is study was carried out in Mbeya Rural
District, which involved 196 households comprised (of ) married, widow/widower, cohabiting and divorced in
Utengule-Usongwe ward. Th e data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, Focus Group Discussions
and documentary reviews. Th e data were edited, coded, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 16.0 computer
program. Th e qualitative data were analyzed and integrated in the report according to the objectives of the
study.
Th e fi ndings of the study revealed that, the majority of the respondents had knowledge about the cultural
infl uence in the households which discriminate and oppress women ' s rights and favour men as superior over
women. Th e respondents were also aware about the tendency of the societies to allocate the available resources
at household level more to boys than girls. Th e study further revealed that the majority of decision makers and
heads of the households were men. However, the study confi rmed that culture plays a great role in discriminating
and oppressing women at household level. Th e fi ndings show clearly that gender inequality is mainly based in
relation to access and control over domestic resources in the household, whereby men are still dominating all
sphere in the households.
Basing on the fi ndings, the study recommends that there is a need to fi lter and alleviate the harmful elements
in culture which lead to ill-treatment of women and hinder women ' s rights at household level. Also there is a
need to teach statutory laws in primary and secondary schools in order to raise awareness about gender equality.