Exploring the relationship between women’s perceptions of gender norms and their participation in decision-making using an intersectional framework: a study in Tanzania's cassava agrifood system
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Wageningen University & Research
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Women play a central role in Tanzania’s cassava agrifood system, contributing an estimated 70% of national food production, yet persistent gender inequalities constrain their decision-making authority. This study examined how women’s intersectional positions defined by age, education and marital status shape their perceptions of gender norms and their decision-making ability related to (i) the purchase and use of cassava technologies and (ii) taking loans to purchase these technologies. The study used primary survey data from 1,134 women farmers who are members of farmer groups in Kigoma and Kagera regions of Tanzania. Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) was applied to assess both perceived gender norms and women’s decision-making outcomes. Findings showed that women consistently perceived descriptive norms as more restrictive than injunctive norms, indicating growing social approval for women’s participation but persistent structural barriers that limit their agency in practice. These gaps were evident across multiple areas, including control over savings, access to agricultural assets, participation and leadership in farmer and credit groups, engagement with extension services and decision-making. Financial autonomy was restrictive, particularly for women’s ability to obtain or use loans without spousal approval. More than half of the respondents perceived this norm as restrictive at both the descriptive and injunctive levels. Regarding intersectional effects, women’s intersectional position, defined by age, education, and marital status, did not lead to variation in how women perceive the restrictiveness of gender norms. However, when we examined how intersectional positioning and perceptions of gender norms are associated with decision-making, we found substantial differences in women's ability to influence decisions. Older and unmarried women showed predicted influence rates of 95% across both decision domains, compared to 40-46% among young married women, representing a gap of more than 50 percentage points. Additionally, women who perceived restrictive norms around group participation were significantly less likely to influence decisions, underscoring the importance of access to agricultural knowledge networks for women’s agency. The study recommends strengthening women’s financial autonomy by challenging norms that require spousal permission for access to credit and by reinforcing women’s asset ownership rights. It also advocates for gender-responsive extension systems that accommodate women’s needs. Lastly, targeted strategies like leadership training or quota-based representation to increase women’s leadership roles.
Palabras clave
gender, decision making, women, tanzania