Assessing gender roles in a changing landscape: diversified agro-pastoralism in drylands of West Pokot, Kenya

• DOI: 10.1186/s13570-015-0039-4
• Publication Date: 2015-11-04T14:10:29Z
• Authors: Vera N. Karmebäck; John Ndung’u Wairore; Magnus Jirström; Gert Nyberg
• Keywords: Pastoralism; Communal land

Previous studies in drylands have shown that while gender roles are becoming more flexible, privatization and formalization of land tenure tends to marginalize women environmental degradation leads differential changes workload. Chepareria, a ward West Pokot County, has undergone the above-mentioned is nowadays dominated by private enclosures as management approach. This study reviewed which ways these rangeland influenced dryland systems Chepareria Pokot, with specific regard division labour, financial responsibilities decision-making processes on household level, also tries identify underlying driving forces contributed observed changes. Our results indicate workload increased under new fragmentation rangelands due cattle herding income generation, but this, gained higher influence decisions concerning family economy. It was found larger extent than before engaged small-scale business such selling farm products poultry keeping, hence getting resources their own control. In this way, involved generation before, though they still excluded from certain traditionally male-dominated spheres both within beyond household, sale handling amounts resources. Under increasingly seen crucial earners enjoying degree independence, power louder voice public matters.