Gender Inequality in Household Water Supply; a Case Study of Ibadan
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION Water is a fundamental basic need and an essential resource for economic activities with strong cultural and symbolic values for millions of people especially in developing countries. A domestic water supply is universally acknowledged as not only a basic right but a key development indicator. It is also accepted as an excellent entry point to reaching the poorest women who have the responsibility of finding domestic water supplies. Poor women disproportionately bear the burden of the unpaid chores of fetching water for domestic uses. In Ibadan city, women and girls are almost exclusively responsible for domestic chores and for maintaining hygiene in the household. Intra-household water collection from a gender perspective has remained a relatively under-researched theme in many countries. Nigeria is no exception, with the lack of research particularly evident in the many rural and peri-urban communities. Water is necessary not only for drinking, but also for food production and preparation, care of domestic animals, personal hygiene, care of the sick, cleaning, washing and waste disposal. For instance, man for the sustenance of life needs water and it is the second most important natural resources used by man after air (Walton, 1970). One third of the world’s population is currently experiencing some kind of physical or economic water scarcity (IFAD 2001a). A growing competition for water from different sectors, including industry, agriculture, power generation, domestic use, and the environment, is making it difficult for people to access this scarce resource for productive, consumptive and social uses. In water-scarce regions and countries, inequity in access to water resources is increasing because of competition for limited resources, and this particularly affects poor rural people, especially women. In many developing countries women and girls are responsible for collecting water from remote sources for use
1.1 INTRODUCTION Water is a fundamental basic need and an essential resource for economic activities with strong cultural and symbolic values for millions of people especially in developing countries. A domestic water supply is universally acknowledged as not only a basic right but a key development indicator. It is also accepted as an excellent entry point to reaching the poorest women who have the responsibility of finding domestic water supplies. Poor women disproportionately bear the burden of the unpaid chores of fetching water for domestic uses. In Ibadan city, women and girls are almost exclusively responsible for domestic chores and for maintaining hygiene in the household. Intra-household water collection from a gender perspective has remained a relatively under-researched theme in many countries. Nigeria is no exception, with the lack of research particularly evident in the many rural and peri-urban communities. Water is necessary not only for drinking, but also for food production and preparation, care of domestic animals, personal hygiene, care of the sick, cleaning, washing and waste disposal. For instance, man for the sustenance of life needs water and it is the second most important natural resources used by man after air (Walton, 1970). One third of the world’s population is currently experiencing some kind of physical or economic water scarcity (IFAD 2001a). A growing competition for water from different sectors, including industry, agriculture, power generation, domestic use, and the environment, is making it difficult for people to access this scarce resource for productive, consumptive and social uses. In water-scarce regions and countries, inequity in access to water resources is increasing because of competition for limited resources, and this particularly affects poor rural people, especially women. In many developing countries women and girls are responsible for collecting water from remote sources for use
References: A Gender Perspective on Water Resources and Sanitation, 14th – 30th April, 2004. Background Paper submitted to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, DESA/DSD/2005/2. Alice A. & Claudine B. (2004). Women and Water: An Ethical Issue. Series on Water and Ethics, Essay 4 Asiyanbola R Benavot A. 1989. Education, gender, and eco- nomic development: a cross-national study. Sociol. Educ. 62:14-32 Bussey, K., & Bandura, A Carney J. and Watts M. (1990). Work, Gender and the Politics of Meaning in a Peasant Society Journal of the International African Institute, 60(2):207- 241 Charles C Elisha P. Renne (1993). Gender Ideology and Fertility Strategies in an Ekiti Yoruba Village. Studies in Family Planning. 24(6):343-353 Erha T Faniran A. (1983) New Approach to Water Supply in Developing Countries: Cases from the Nigerian Situation. Natural Resources Forum, 17(3):271-275 Gbadegesin N Ismail Bala Garba (2006) “Of Real Freedom and Gender Equality”: A Re-Appraisal of Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The Stillborn’. JENDA: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies ISSN: 1530-5686 Issue 8. Jacobs J. A. (1996) Gender Inequality and Higher Education. Annual Review of Sociology, 22: 153-185 Kritz M Leanda Barrington-Leach, et al. (2007). Gender equality as a leverage for the well-being of children Investing in youth: an empowerment strategy.Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA), 16-18. Lloyd P.C., Mabogunje A.L. and Awe B. (1967). The city of Ibadan. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Niara Sudarkasa, 1982. Sex Roles, Education and Development in Africa Oliyide, S. (2007) Challenges of Water Provision in Ogun State. Ogun State water corporation Digest, 1(1)3-7. Olokesusi F. (1987) Water Supply: Possible Constraints on Socio-Economic Development in Oyo State, Nigeria. Aqua 5:268-273 Osagbemi M Report of the Seminar on Gender and Water Resources Management in Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, March 9, 2005. United Nations Publication, ECA/SA/S/Gender/2005/05. Resouce Guide: Mainstraming Gender in Water Management. Version 2.1 November 2006 Van Wijk-Sijbesma (1998)