Contribution Of Women Involved In Handcraft To Household Living Standard In Wete District, Pemba

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the contribution of women involved in handcraft to household living standard in Wete District in Pemba. Surveys show that there are a large number of women involved in handcraft in Wete district, especially in Wete town, but their contribution to household living standard is not recognized. The Study used feminist theory and economic growth theory.

The study used qualitative and quantitative research approaches to guarantee dependability of the findings. For the purpose of this study, the sample size was 70 participants, the study used interview for key informants and field survey for women involved in handcraft and household members to obtain information. Data were analyzed quantitatively with the help of the computer program. Statistical Package for Social Science [SPSS] and Microsoft excel was used to process and present data in the form of graphs and tables.

The results of the findings indicated that there are number of women involved in handcraft in the study area who are aged 36-45 whose education level is secondary level, who are married and have more than 5 household members depending on them. Moreover it was revealed that women involved in handcraft are formally unemployed, household heads and main contributors to household. Women involved in handcraft are motivated by various factors to engage in handcraft activities such as having not been employed formally. Moreover, the majority of them work on basketry industries during the day. Women involved in handcraft contribute to household living standard by meeting the basic needs for the household although their contribution is not recognized in the society. Additionally, results show that women involved in handcraft had different constrains that affect them in performing well to improve household living standard. There are family problems, capital, and lack of training hence they have recommended to be given loans and training so as to improve their performance in the household living standard.

Basing on the findings it recommended that; women should form business cooperatives or organizations. Moreover; the community should also recognize the contribution of women so as to motivate them to develop and enlarge their handcrafts. Furthermore; the government should provide a free slot on the national radio and television for women entrepreneurship training, education, and networking with other women entrepreneurs.