Toward tenure security: The relationship between women's land ownership, formal land title documents and their empowerment

Abstract

Respect for land rights for women, as a key strategy to promote their development and empowerment as well as improving their welfare, has been considered in today's societies. However, there have been few empirical studies to back up this statement. Therefore, the primary goal of this research was to find out whether or not women may increase their authority through economic tenure security, legal tenure security, household characteristic, or de facto tenure security. In this regard, the survey data collected in 2021 from 28 villages of Mazandaran province (Northern Iran) were analyzed. The study highlights the significance of de facto tenure security as the most crucial among the four qualities assessed. It's important to note, however, that possessing land titles doesn't necessarily guarantee de facto tenure security. Despite this distinction, the study reveals a meaningful correlation, suggesting that women with land titles are more likely to experience higher levels of empowerment. Official certification, resolution of tenure disputes, increased agricultural income, and the impact of regional urbanization all play an important role in empowering rural women, which usually results in better economic outcomes for them. According to the results, it is evident that the legal registration of women's land ownership correlates with enhanced women's empowerment within rural communities. Land ownership provides women with the means to generate income, make independent choices, and actively participate in various aspects of social and economic life. The findings of this study underscore potential shortcomings in gender neutrality within land interventions, emphasizing the necessity for incorporating gender considerations into research and land-use planning. The practitioners and policy-makers may utilize the study's findings to invest in programs that include components of land tenure security and increase women's economic empowerment.