Land reform: Still a goal worth pursuing for rural women?

Abstract

This paper asks if considering all the changes happening in development are still worth talking about in reference to land reform and women. The article presents arguments to confirm that because women have been excluded from land reforms and redistribution, they had to diversify their livelihood bases. Many countries still practice customary patrilineal law which is highly discriminatory towards women, and often excludes widowed and divorced women with dependents. Women have no control over land, and only married women have access to land. Outside pressures for increase income can decrease time and investment in agriculture. Often husbands control wives' incomes too. The article also argues that land reform which includes women would benefit not only women, but it would increase food security, would allow wives to keep better control over their own incomes, and would increase women's status more generally.