Evaluation of the Barriers Facing Rural Women's Access to Lands in Patriarchal Societies and the Possible Effects on their Health Status


Olufunke Olatunji, Federal University Oye Ekiti Nigeria

Agriculture is a crucial sector for human survival, and womens contribution to it is undeniable. Women play a crucial role in agriculture, both in small and big farms, producing food for their households, communities, and beyond. Rural women in particular are the strategic actor for reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty as they play a central role in household food security, dietary diversity, and children’s health. When considering household well-being, it is important to consider who manages household and family resources, including land as women are much more likely than men to spend income from these resources on their children’s nutritional and educational needs. However, despite their significant contribution, women often face cultural, social, and economic barriers that limit their productivity and ability to fully participate in agricultural development, including unequal access to resources, cultural and traditional barriers, and gender-based violence. Women across the developing world are consistently less likely to own land, have fewer rights to land, and the land they do own or have access to is of lower quality in comparison to men. Improving women’s access to and control over economic resources has a positive effect on a range of development goals, including poverty reduction and economic growth. The study area for this research is Southwest, Nigeria. This research will explore the issues as regards to land access that potentially have great significant effects on the health and well-being of women in patriarchal societies. The broad objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of barriers to womens access to land in patriarchal societies in their physical, mental and social health. The specific objectives are to examine the level at which women’s in patriarchal societies have access to land, evaluate the specific barriers to land access that affects women in patriarchal societies and investigate the barriers effects on womens physical, mental, and social health. Simple random sampling technique will be used for selection purpose, while One hundred and twenty respondents will be considered for the study. Well structured questionnaires will be used for data collection. The results will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. This study will solve the likely problems facing rural women in assessing land for agricultural production and also provide possible solution to the effects of land assess on their physical, mental and social health and well being. The result will be used by policy makers for designing and implementing of projects and policies to secure women’s land and property rights. Agriculture is a crucial sector for human survival, and womens contribution to it is undeniable. Women play a crucial role in agriculture, both in small and big farms, producing food for their households, communities, and beyond. Rural women in particular are the strategic actor for reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty as they play a central role in household food security, dietary diversity, and children’s health. When considering household well-being, it is important to consider who manages household and family resources, including land as women are much more likely than men to spend income from these resources on their children’s nutritional and educational needs. However, despite their significant contribution, women often face cultural, social, and economic barriers that limit their productivity and ability to fully participate in agricultural development, including unequal access to resources, cultural and traditional barriers, and gender-based violence. Women across the developing world are consistently less likely to own land, have fewer rights to land, and the land they do own or have access to is of lower quality in comparison to men. Improving women’s access to and control over economic resources has a positive effect on a range of development goals, including poverty reduction and economic growth. The study area for this research is Southwest, Nigeria. This research will explore the issues as regards to land access that potentially have great significant effects on the health and well-being of women in patriarchal societies. The broad objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of barriers to womens access to land in patriarchal societies in their physical, mental and social health. The specific objectives are to examine the level at which women’s in patriarchal societies have access to land, evaluate the specific barriers to land access that affects women in patriarchal societies and investigate the barriers effects on womens physical, mental, and social health. Simple random sampling technique will be used for selection purpose, while One hundred and twenty respondents will be considered for the study. Well structured questionnaires will be used for data collection. The results will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. This study will solve the likely problems facing rural women in assessing land for agricultural production and also provide possible solution to the effects of land assess on their physical, mental and social health and well being. The result will be used by policy makers for designing and implementing of projects and policies to secure women’s land and property rights.

Non-presenting authors: Abimbola Fanu, Federal University Oye Ekiti Nigeria; Sunday Ogunjimi, Federal University Oye Ekiti Nigeria; Abiodun Ajala, Federal University Oye Ekiti Nigeria; Barizomdu Pii, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

This paper will be presented at the following session: