Assessment of the Roles and Constraints of Women in the Economic Development of Ethiopia: The Case of AmboTown since 1991
Presenter's country
Ethiopia
Start Date
27-5-2016 10:20 AM
End Date
27-5-2016 11:25 AM
Location
Hall II
Submission type
Presentation
Abstract
This study is mainly focused on the role of women in the economic development of Ambo town. Women in Ethiopia or anywhere else in developing countries occupy the low status in the society and their contributions has never been adequately recognized or given economic value. Moreover, women‘s roles in the economy has often been under estimated and their work in the different sectors has long been invisible. Even though a number of studies have been undertaken on the roles of women, they neglect and paid only scant attention and overlook their roles and constraints in the economic development of Ambo town. Thus, it is the aim of this paper to assess the roles and constraints of women in the economic development of Ambo town since 1991. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative research approach. The findings are based on primary and secondary data; the primary data is collected through questionnaires and interview while the secondary data is collected from the available literature. The finding of the study indicates the significance of the role of women in economic development and the factors that make their economic roles unrecognized. The roles of women, among other things, includes saving, family planning, efficient utilization of resources, productive, reproductive, and community managing role. Despite these roles, women’s role in the economic development has been constrained by numerous factors. These factors include low level educational back ground, lack of initial capital to start their own business, lack of business know-how, lack of confidence and inferiority, lack of interest to work in group (cooperation), women’s dependency on men’s income, dependency of family on women’s, cultural norms, men dominance and early marriage. Moreover, some factors can be attributed to women themselves and it includes lack of initiative (low self- esteem) and lack of self- confidence. Despite these impediments, women have continued playing their distinctive roles and the paper suggests that the role of women in economic development can be improved through gender empowerment measures and by providing women to productive resources such as credit and loan.
Assessment of the Roles and Constraints of Women in the Economic Development of Ethiopia: The Case of AmboTown since 1991
Hall II
This study is mainly focused on the role of women in the economic development of Ambo town. Women in Ethiopia or anywhere else in developing countries occupy the low status in the society and their contributions has never been adequately recognized or given economic value. Moreover, women‘s roles in the economy has often been under estimated and their work in the different sectors has long been invisible. Even though a number of studies have been undertaken on the roles of women, they neglect and paid only scant attention and overlook their roles and constraints in the economic development of Ambo town. Thus, it is the aim of this paper to assess the roles and constraints of women in the economic development of Ambo town since 1991. The study employs both qualitative and quantitative research approach. The findings are based on primary and secondary data; the primary data is collected through questionnaires and interview while the secondary data is collected from the available literature. The finding of the study indicates the significance of the role of women in economic development and the factors that make their economic roles unrecognized. The roles of women, among other things, includes saving, family planning, efficient utilization of resources, productive, reproductive, and community managing role. Despite these roles, women’s role in the economic development has been constrained by numerous factors. These factors include low level educational back ground, lack of initial capital to start their own business, lack of business know-how, lack of confidence and inferiority, lack of interest to work in group (cooperation), women’s dependency on men’s income, dependency of family on women’s, cultural norms, men dominance and early marriage. Moreover, some factors can be attributed to women themselves and it includes lack of initiative (low self- esteem) and lack of self- confidence. Despite these impediments, women have continued playing their distinctive roles and the paper suggests that the role of women in economic development can be improved through gender empowerment measures and by providing women to productive resources such as credit and loan.