Gender roles, responsibilities, and spaces

Abstract

Throughout Africa, roles and responsibilities are gendered. Men are responsible primarily for productive work while women are responsible for both productive and reproductive work. Furthermore, women and men have different spaces over which they have authority. In some communities, certain fields, trees and tree products are gendered. Furthermore, different parts of the same tree may be gender specific in use. Understanding these roles, responsibilities and spaces is therefore necessary if agroforestry research and development (R&D) is to benefit both men and women. The importance of understanding gender roles, responsibilities and spaces in agroforestry (R&D) is discussed. Data from different parts of Africa are presented to show how roles and responsibilities influence choices men and women make in regard to agroforestry. In addition, the review shows how women are more likely to derive personal benefits from agroforestry if spaces in which they have control over resource management are reinforced by researchers and development professionals. This can be achieved by embracing gender transfor-mative approaches