Gender Equality and Family Development: The Assessment on the Impact of Gender Equality and Social Economic Development of Family household in Rwanda. A case of Gasabo District

Abstract

The study conducted with the topic “Gender equality and household social economic development, a case study of Gasabo District” intended to assess the impact of gender equality on improving household social-economic development in Gasabo District of Kigali City in Rwanda. The involvement of both genders in the development process, is supposed to lead to the improvement of household welfare and ultimately enhance the development of the entire country. This study addresses the following questions: What are the gender equality factors that enhance household social-economic development in Rwanda? What are the challenges which affect gender equality and consequently impinge on household socialeconomic development in Rwanda? Theoretically, the study refers to the literature from feminism and social-economic development with emphasis on Rwanda. In terms of methodology, this study has an exploratory study design, which recognized that different answers can be given from the same set of questions. Using convenience sampling method, a sample size of 166 respondents was used composed of heads of households in Gasabo District. With the use of self administered questionnaire, interviews and focus groups discussions the researcher was able to investigate the existence of gender equality at the household level. The findings for this study, indicate that both male and female have the same contribution to the household development; they have the same access to land succession; the same access to decision making; the same access and control over resources; the same rights, duties and responsibilities; have mutual respect for each other and the same access to health facilities, as well as the same chance to inheritance. From these findings, both genders have the same rights to eliminate violence. As a result, a big number of respondents has proved that nowadays women have a say on expenditure decisions in the family. Findings also show that both male and female solve conflicts together; plan for desirable households’ codes of conducts; agree on behaviors and understand each other; social adjustment and accountability which improve xv social development. Due to gender equality both male and female have the right to run income generating activities; the right to use income and capital; the right to participate in trade decision making at the family level; access to resources, and have the right to share capital and mutual support to run business. These factors have contribute to social economic development of the family household since they improve social interaction; conflict management and promote better cohabitation; promote education of children; improve self esteem. Gender equality factors enhance human capital and foster higher labour productivity. Enhanced gender equality attracts investment in physical capital; undertake higher-value economic activity; provide infrastructure and household assets; promote microeconomic stability; openness to trade and investment and increase competitive markets. Findings indicate that gender equality policy is a durable remedy for the social economic development of families in Rwanda. However the findings have also indicated the following challenges that obstruct successful social economic development of the family household: cultural barriers as a major challenges to successful implementation of gender equality at the household level; the lack of reproductive health control; patriarchy and discrimination; poverty and lack of economic empowerment; gender equality misinterpretation; gender based violence; acculturation via media outlets; the lack of social cohesion due to work life imbalance, reducing quality and productivity of work; negative attitudes of some males is another challenge that threatens gender equality and affects development at the household level. The contribution of this dissertation centres on the household social-economic development; hence making its contribution through investigating the dynamics at the household level, where families are directly involved in contributing to their socioeconomic development. It also makes its contribution to the literature on household level highlighting the factors and challenges facing gender equality in Rwanda.