WOMEN AND HOUSEHOLD POVERTY, FROM BREAST FEEDING TO BREAD WINNING (A CASE OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA).
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Date
2020-01-01
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Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Ekiti State University, Nigeria
Abstract
In traditional African society, women’s roles as child bearers, caregivers to children, the
sick and the elderly, and in food production are seen as very important to the health and survival
of their immediate families. Women are also involved in petty trading and other informal economic
activities that are lowly remunerated. However, in recent time women’s responsibilities have
shifted from these known roles to full involvement in formal economic activities. This paper
focuses on women economic participation and the implication on household poverty/welfare. It
argues that, increasing female formal economic engagement serves as a spring board for families
to move out of poverty. This is because women re-invest a much larger part of their income in
families and communities than men thereby spreading the wealth and creating a positive impact
on future development.
Using random sampling, data were collected through questionnaire and in-depth interview
from respondents in Ado Local government area of Ekiti State. Findings from the study revealed
that westernization through education and religion are responsible for women’s shift from their
traditional role to formal economic engagement. Although this transition has some negative
implications but the positive impacts which include improvement in family nutrition, children
access to better education and educational facilities have strong influence on the households.
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Idowu, O.O. & Adefisoye I.D. (2020). Women and household poverty: From breastfeeding to breadwinning (A case of Ekiti State). International Journal of Gender and Development Studies, Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Ekiti State University, Nigeria, 1 (1), 232-239.