Impediments to women’s participation in socio-economic activities in Dadaab Sub-County of Garissa County, Kenya

Abstract

This study focused on impediments to women’s participation in socio-economic activities in Dadaab Sub-County of Garissa County, Kenya. A review of literature on women’s participation in socio-economic activities revealed that women’s participation in these activities has remained substantially low despite the many campaigns globally aimed at improving their participation. The study examined common areas of women’s participation in socio-economic activities; analyzed the level of women’s participation in socio-economic activities and assessed the impediments to women’s participation in socio-economic activities in Dadaab Sub-county. Social Feminist and Rational Choice Theories were used to explain the marginalization and social structures that women must confront in their attempt to participation in social economic activities in society, and the considerations that women participants in socio-economic activities have to make respectively. This was a descriptive survey study, which engaged 176 women respondents selected through stratified random sampling. This study used interview schedule in data collection, which was then cleaned, coded and analysed using descriptive statistics, and presented in tables and figures. The socio-economic activities that women participated in were formal employment, business, farming; community based organizational activities, self-help activities, management of local schools and local political activities, with business attracting most of their participation. However, the level of women’s participation in these activities was substantially low, given the less influential positions held by most of them in these activities. Women faced various impediments to their participation in socio-economic activities, which included those relating to their marital status, level of education, family support and access to credit facilities. Most of these impediments were largely products of deeply rooted patriarchy that have denied women education and significant recognition. The present study has shade light on the socio-economic activities under which women find themselves; the study hopes will broaden our understanding of women’s participation in socio-economic activities. In view of this, this study has recommended for the need for women to come together through self-help approach to establish a revolving fund to reduce over-dependence on traditional financial institutions for credit. This study has recommended for further study to be done on the women’s coping mechanisms given that some of them had effective participation in socio-economic activities despite the numerous impediments to their participation.