Gender and Asset Ownership Nata Duvvury Global Women’s Studies Programme 18 February 2008

Why Gender and Asset Ownership? Essential input to sustainable agriculture and rural development sectors in which women form majority Critical link between women’s realization of their reproductive and sexual rights and their economic empowerment

New Attention to Property Rights Lack of property or insecure property rights impacts food security and limits financial options Rise in inter-generational poverty as household assets are fragmented and orphans are impoverished Recognition asset ownership critical to realize MDG goals With renewal of interest in agriculture, women’s property rights remerging as central issue

Gaps in Research Rigorous estimates of the level of women’s property ownership Role of property ownership in mitigating the effects of social shocks such as violence or HIV/AIDS How property ownership can protect the experience of violence or HIV/AIDS Two studies in South Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa

Research Findings Ownership of immovable assets, particular house ownership, is a critical protective factor for the experience of domestic violence An exit option for women in risky relationships Some evidence of negotiating safe sex

Proposed Research –What is the level of asset ownership and control by women in Ireland? What is their involvement in agriculture? –Are women with property diversifying into non- agricultural rural enterprises? Are these women able to expand scale of enterprise? –What is the pattern of inheritance and succession? Is there a shift to a more gender equal pattern of property ownership?

Initial Steps Discussion held with National Farm Survey Three questions on ownership and inheritance of land and house to be introduced in this year’s NFS Currently Walsh Fellowship on women’s identity and leadership in rural areas Next year will submit proposal for new fellowship focusing in greater depth on women’s asset ownership and its implications for rural development