Assessing autonomy among Sahelian women: An analytical framework for women's production work

Abstract

This study assessed autonomy, control over food production, and craft activities among rural Bambara women in Mali. The study intended to show how the methodology is useful for analyzing how the different components of women's work are embedded within a set of social, economic, and environmental factors. Interviews were conducted among 111 women from Gagna, Siratinti, and Toun villages in Djenne region, and 3 Gagna men, 4 government workers, and 3 CARE and CUSO project coordinators. Interviews were conducted and observations made during August 1988 to March 1989, and in February 1990. Women cultivate the delta land, which has been affected by reduced rainfall and vegetation since the late 1960s. Women's production is affected by time, technical knowledge, and husband's permission. Control over garden work is measured by decision-making, control factors, and degree of control for land, water, seeds, access to a "daba", access to a pail, mission restrictions, know-how, time (in general), time for watering, women's physical ability, and produce (cotton, vegetables, and condiments). Women's autonomy is determined by types of factors, impact of factors, economic factors, environmental factors, scale, and relationships between men and women, between women, and between ethnic groups. Women have control over income to meet the family's needs. Neither men nor women control all the components of their gender-based work. Women must negotiate their access to raw materials and assistance. Help usually involves people from outside the husband's family. Non-family networks of friends provide support and services.