The impact of gender disempowerment on the welfare of Zimbabwean women

Abstract

This article utilizes a feminist structural perspective in demonstrating how the cultural, economic, political and resource disempowerment of Zimbabwean women and children perpetuates impoverishment. It proposes strength-based community organizing for local and international social networking with grassroots women, NGOs, governments and other professionals to ensure women’s and children’s human rights.

Lone Motherhood in Zimbabwe: The Socioeconomic Conditions of Lone Parents and Their Children

“…The poverty gap between urban and rural residents is daunting: 88% of the poor households are located in rural areas. Because of a combination of a history of a gendered and racialized settler-dominated economy coupled with illfated post-independence policies (Kawewe, 2001a(Kawewe, , 2001bMoyo & Kawewe, 2002), inequitable conditions prevail, which have favored urban areas with modern infrastructure and social amenities. The rural areas continue to experience high levels of poverty, and it is women and children who represent the majority of rural dwellers.…”

“…This structural poverty, as opposed to case poverty predominant in the West, is so pervasive in the region that there is apparent social stratification among the poor. Over two-thirds of the Zimbabwean population, for example, composes the poor strata, but poverty becomes more severe among those already structurally and culturally marginalized, women with children, in particular, lone mothers and their families (Armstrong, 1998;Kawewe, 2000Kawewe, , 2001aKawewe, , 2001b. As a result of such an alarming proportion of impoverishment, many lone mothers and their children, though eligible, do not receive public assistance.…”

“…As a result of such an alarming proportion of impoverishment, many lone mothers and their children, though eligible, do not receive public assistance. The small fraction receiving public service is viewed as the privileged among the poor (Kawewe, 2001a(Kawewe, , 2001bMoyo & Kawewe, 2002).…”

“…They are also the most harmed by such patriarchal programs (Africa News Editor, 1999;Kawewe, 2000Kawewe, , 2001aKawewe, , 2001b. Despite the odds, lone mothers persevere because of their ingenuity and resilience.…”

Understand Factors Influencing the Development of the Social and Solidarity Economy in African countries:A Case Study in Rural Tunisia.

“…which defined the guidelines for new development policies that included among its pillars the disengagement of the state, privatization and liberalization of agri-food units, but the most important feature of this approach was to make the intensive system the cornerstone of agricultural policies (Due, J. M., & Gladwin, 1991;Gana, 2008;Kawewe & Dibie, 2000). Despite the financial support of their sponsors, mainly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), their impact on economic development and food and nutrition security has been limited (Franz Heidhues and Gideon Obare, 2011).…”