Gender Issues in Smallstock Development

It is estimated that 70 percent of the world's rural poor are women, for whom livestock represent one of the most important assets and sources of income (DFID 2000). Women in rural areas also invest a large part of their time, labour and expertise in agricultural and livestock production. Smallstock are particularly closely associated with women so it is important to consider gender in any attempt to develop smallstock production. While there is huge variation around the world, the day-to-day labour of caring for smallstock is almost certainly mainly done by women (and to some extent children). Women are also more likely to be considered the owners of smallstock compared to larger livestock, and to have a say in the disposal and sale of smallstock and smallstock products, and in the use of income from this. However, women also suffer from many broader constraints compared to men, in their decision-making powers and their access to land, capital and information and marketing opportunities, which can affect smallstock production and the benefits gained from it. Gender analysis is therefore very important in planning and implementing smallstock development.

Gender and Gender Inequality Gender Analysis Key Questions Relating to Gender HIV/AIDS and Smallstock Development References and Further Reading   See also: The Importance of Smallstock

A common misconception is that gender means women and that gender issues are the same as women’s issues. Gender is equally about men, and gender refers to the socially or culturally established roles of women and men. These roles very often differ from one culture to another and may change over time. Gender relations are those between men and women within a particular cultural context. They may be cooperative, within a locally accepted division of tasks and responsibilities, or they may be competitive and in conflict. When roles and responsibilities are clearly defined along gender lines, there is less room for overt conflict between men and women; each group has its own sphere of influence and decision making. However, where certain roles and responsibilities are shared, there is much more room for conflict, and also for negotiation.

Gender conflict implies not only competition, but also inequality in gender relations. Power is a dimension of all social relations, including gender relations. If one group has an unfair advantage over another in relation to a particular resource, there is an inequality of power. Gender inequality usually applies to two contexts. Firstly, key productive and decision-making roles and responsibilities are often defined on gender lines, and one gender (often male) controls most of the highly valued resources. Secondly, key roles and responsibilities (often burdensome ones) may in principle be shared, but in practice fall largely upon one gender (often female) rather than another. Gender inequalities often occur in the division of labour and access and control of resources. This usually means that women are at a disadvantage compared with men, either in the amount of work expected of them, or in control over key resources, and often in both.

For more details on this topic see Meadows and Sutherland (2000)

Gender analysis involves the systematic and objective comparison of women's and men's roles, rights, responsibilities and performance. In the context of natural resource research, gender analysis is usually carried out in relation to a particular enterprise, sector, or topical area. It should be geographically defined, and may also focus on a particular socio-economic category, such as poorer households. Gender analysis is guided by the use of a conceptual framework and a methodological approach.

For more details on Gender Analysis see Meadows and Sutherland (2000)

Gender relations in any society are not static, but can change over time, both in response to external changes and as women and men in the society take action to change their own roles. The increased intervention of government and the formal economy in people’s lives can have double-edged effects – increased education for girls generally improves the lot of women, but the increased presence of male-dominated bureaucracies and the new regulations associated with them can disempower women. “Tradition” can favour or disfavour women. “Tradition” has great force and should be respected, but it needs to be understood as something that evolves, and it should not be used as an excuse for failing to understand gender relations or for ignoring the possibility of changing them.

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and similar qualitative tools will be important in uncovering gender inequalities and their implications for smallstock production. The tools presented elsewhere in this toolbox (see Tools for Finding Out) will all have their uses in gender analysis, particularly if used sensitively with all-female groups. In addition, gender-disaggregated information from structured surveys, including KAP surveys, will also be useful.

Some of the key questions to ask about smallstock production from a gender analysis point of view will include:

Both quantitative and qualitative tools can be used in gender analysis or appraisal. National census data can be considered as a possible starting point for quantitative information, but has the disadvantage of often being significantly out of date, with ten-year intervals between censuses, and normally limited to providing population numbers, distribution and age groupings. However, the qualitative information delivered by PRA and similar participatory tools will be vitally important in uncovering gender inequalities and their implications for smallstock production. The tools presented elsewhere in this toolbox will all have their uses in gender analysis, particularly if used sensitively with all-female groups. But gender-disaggregated information from structured surveys, including KAP studies, will also be useful.

The rising epidemic of HIV/AIDS has particular relevance to smallstock production and women’s role in it. HIV/AIDS is likely to result in female-headed households (as well as child-headed households) and generally increase women's labour as they take on more productive roles as well as caring for the dying and for children. Smallstock may have a special role as a productive resource that can be tended in or near the homestead by women and children.

Gordon, A., Swetman, T. and Albright, K. (2002). Women in Post-Harvest Operations: reducing the Drudgery CPHP Issues Paper No.6 , DFID Crop Post-Harvest Programme, 2002.

IFAD (no date). Women's Indigenous Knowledge of Livestock Production.
which is a summary of:

Niamir-Fuller, M. (1994). Women Livestock Managers in the Third World: Focus on Technical Issues Related to Gender Roles in Livestock Production. IFAD Staff Working Paper No.18

Food and nutrient intake among females in rural Bangladesh - How does a poultry project benefit women and girls?

Poultry as a Tool in Poverty Eradication and Promotion of gender Equality

FAO's Programme for Support to Family Poultry Production

Utilisation of Poultry Feed Resources by Smallholders in the Villages of Developing Countries

Women's agricultural activities in crop-livestock production systems

Optimising the integration of livestock into small-scale low external input crop systems

Strengthening the contribution of women to household livelihood through improved livestock production interventions and strategies in the Teso farming systems region