Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Widows, land rights and women’s empowerment: “Who will own the kitchen”? - findings from the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania

Johansson, Elin LU (2023) MIDM19 20231
Department of Human Geography
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
Women around the world are constantly being denied their land rights due to discriminatory practices. Widowed women are particularly at risk. This prevents advancing women’s empowerment and women’s equal opportunities for participation and leadership at all levels of decision making processes. Through a qualitative case study within the Chagga community in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, this thesis’ aim is to understand how widows perceive their land rights, what challenges and opportunities they face in accessing their land rights, and why, and to what extent widows participate in local government decision-making processes in land management. The findings reveal the nuanced ways in which widows perceive their right to land, transcending mere... (More)
Women around the world are constantly being denied their land rights due to discriminatory practices. Widowed women are particularly at risk. This prevents advancing women’s empowerment and women’s equal opportunities for participation and leadership at all levels of decision making processes. Through a qualitative case study within the Chagga community in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, this thesis’ aim is to understand how widows perceive their land rights, what challenges and opportunities they face in accessing their land rights, and why, and to what extent widows participate in local government decision-making processes in land management. The findings reveal the nuanced ways in which widows perceive their right to land, transcending mere ownership to a more holistic view that encompasses cultural, social, and economic dimensions. Delving into the challenges and opportunities of accessing land rights, the study showed that while the widows exhibited remarkable negotiation skills and resilience, obstacles such as limited knowledge of land laws and familial responsibilities were obvious. Chagga widows' participation in local government decision-making processes in land management reveals a complex landscape shaped by limited knowledge of land laws, challenges in attending local government meetings, and varying degrees of women's representation in local leadership positions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Johansson, Elin LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Widows, Tanzania, Land rights, Women’s empowerment, Local government, Participation
language
English
id
9136634
date added to LUP
2023-09-12 13:44:52
date last changed
2023-09-12 13:44:52
@misc{9136634,
  abstract     = {{Women around the world are constantly being denied their land rights due to discriminatory practices. Widowed women are particularly at risk. This prevents advancing women’s empowerment and women’s equal opportunities for participation and leadership at all levels of decision making processes. Through a qualitative case study within the Chagga community in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, this thesis’ aim is to understand how widows perceive their land rights, what challenges and opportunities they face in accessing their land rights, and why, and to what extent widows participate in local government decision-making processes in land management. The findings reveal the nuanced ways in which widows perceive their right to land, transcending mere ownership to a more holistic view that encompasses cultural, social, and economic dimensions. Delving into the challenges and opportunities of accessing land rights, the study showed that while the widows exhibited remarkable negotiation skills and resilience, obstacles such as limited knowledge of land laws and familial responsibilities were obvious. Chagga widows' participation in local government decision-making processes in land management reveals a complex landscape shaped by limited knowledge of land laws, challenges in attending local government meetings, and varying degrees of women's representation in local leadership positions.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Elin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Widows, land rights and women’s empowerment: “Who will own the kitchen”? - findings from the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}