Title: Women as drawers of water: sharing the unequal burden

Authors: Jagriti Kher; Savita Aggarwal; Geeta Punhani

Addresses: Department of Development Communication and Extension, Institute of Home Economics, F-4, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi-110016, India ' Department of Development Communication and Extension, Institute of Home Economics, F-4, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi-110016, India ' Department of Development Communication and Extension, Institute of Home Economics, F-4, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi-110016, India

Abstract: Women are the principal water carriers in developing countries where only 46% population has household water supply. This study examines the change in the role of women in household water management over time in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the worlds most income and water poor regions. Our study has shown that the participation of women in water accession continues to be very high as socio-cultural norms determine gendered division of tasks. It is therefore crucial to invest in household water supply infrastructure to enable women to meet their strategic gender needs and reduce gender gaps in society.

Keywords: South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; SSA; practical gender needs; PGNs; strategic gender needs; SGNs; time poverty; female empowerment; gender gap; women roles; gendered task division; water supply infrastructure; climate change; water carriers; developing countries; household water management; gender inequality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2016.079891

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2016 Vol.1 No.4, pp.299 - 316

Received: 19 May 2015
Accepted: 12 Feb 2016
Published online: 20 Oct 2016 *

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