Area of Inquiry 3: Control of Productive Resources

Ownership and control over productive assets have important implications on how individuals or groups can pursue their aspirations and protect themselves from shocks. With so many development projects aimed toward strengthening community livelihoods, resilience to shocks and social protection, it is essential to understand how gender influences who has control over and benefits from various productive assets – in terms of ownership of household assets, inheritance claims, livelihood opportunities and financial capital. Gaining control and ownership over productive assets is critical to secure collateral for a loan, and strengthen resilience following natural disasters, conflict, death of a household head, or separation from a spouse.

Thus, it is important to reflect on what are the norms and characteristics around control over and benefits from productive assets, and how can projects work to promote more equal gender relations in this area.

 

Agency	Structures	Relations	Related Tools
What strategies do women employ – individually or as a group – to gain control over productive assets? And over their own labor and income? Who do they negotiate with? What personal skills, abilities, information, knowledge or attitudes will a man or woman need to be able to negotiate control over productive assets? What have women done collectively to promote equality in control over productive assets?	What are household norms on the management of productive assets between men and women? How do livelihood options favor men or women? How do societal norms, policies or programs influence accessibility of productive assets for women? Which civil society groups are working to support equal access to value chain, market, agricultural or livelihood options for women? And to support women’s equal control over productive assets in this context?	What social or livelihood networks (clan, cooperatives, labor groups, VSLA) do women benefit from or contribute to? What is their influence in control over productive assets by men or women? What are the positive and negative consequences for women who successfully control assets? What are the positive and negative consequence for men, when women successfully control assets? How do women negotiate control of productive assets? How does this compare with men? Among women, are some groups (based on citizenship status, caste, marital status, etc.) not as successful, and why? Collectively – how do women and men mobilize or advocate around this issue and with whom? How are CARE’s programs relating to groups’ goals and actions? How are these groups related to other key stakeholders/institutions (private enterprise, government, religious institutions, etc.)?	Higher Level Conditions Macro-Secondary Analysis Policy Analysis Governance Analysis Key Informant Interviews Gender Norms and Trends Mapping Institutions/ Stakeholders Community Dynamics Network Analysis Wage Analysis, Crop Matrix Gender Norms and Trends Land Tenure Matrix Measuring Attitudes toward Women and Gender Equality Dependency/Influence Mapping Role-Playing and Story-telling Scenarios Decision-making exercises Key Informant Interviews Household Dynamics Intra-Household Decision-Making Income and Expenditures Matrices or Pie Charts

 

Special Consideration for Children and Adolescents:

• How are girls and boys being socialized regarding societal/cultural expectations of their roles in control, use of and/or benefits from productive assets?
• Are girls and boys given equal access to education, training, parenting or mentoring that enhances their acquisition of skills, attitudes, and knowledge to maximize successful future control over productive assets?
• Do they have the adult role models and mentors to provide encouragement and guidance?
• If they are already engaging in livelihood options, are there mechanisms to ensure safety and choice (to prevent coercion, violence, slavery, trafficking, adequate pay and appropriate working conditions, etc.)?

 

Reminder: Situating Analysis in Broader Context

Across each area of inquiry, consider how gender relations interact with the analysis of broader context in relation to gender:

• Cultural norms and values
• Policies and laws related to human rights, especially implementation pertinent to women’s rights
• Broader Development: Information on edu. attainment, literacy, incomes and livelihoods, mobility, workload, health, nutrition, morbidity/mortality, violence, etc., by sex.
• Experiences, attitudes, opinions of critical groups and actors in the context, and their relations with one another as well as with groups of women.