The doing and undoing of male household decision-making and economic authority in Rwanda and its implications for gender transformative programming

Abstract

This paper explores two key norms that underpin intimate partner violence in Rwanda: men's roles as economic providers and decision-making authorities in the household. It describes the political, legal and socio-economic factors affecting these norms and how they create opportunities and barriers to 'undoing' restrictive gender norms. Findings are drawn from an evaluation of Inadshyikirwa, an intimate partner violence prevention programme operating in Rwanda. Across three intervention sectors, 24 focus groups were conducted with unmarried and married men and women residing in intervention communities. Thirty interviews with couples and nine interviews with opinion leaders were conducted before they completed programme training designed to shift gender norms underlying intimate partner violence. The data indicate a strong awareness of and accountability to Rwandan laws and policies supporting women's economic empowerment and decision-making, alongside persisting traditional notions of men as household heads and primary breadwinners. Transgression of these norms could be accommodated in some circumstances, especially those involving economic necessity. The data also identified increasing recognition of the value of a more equitable partnership model. Findings highlight the importance of carefully assessing cracks in the existing gender order that can be exploited to support gender equality and non-violence.

Women’s economic empowerment and health related decision-making in rural Sierra Leone

“…Implicitly they appear to acknowledge that their own empowerment is most beneficial when it also enhances family and community cohesiveness. This aligns with a study in Rwanda that showed that traditional gender roles still prevailed while women achieved a greater sense of empowerment, with men claiming authority in decision-making (Stern, Heise, and McLean 2017).…”

Social attributes of the male that incite the violence by intimate partner

“…Even when women have paid work activities, and they have a superior financial situation than that of their partners, to the point of promoting the livelihood of the home, the role as head of the family usually remains as belonging to the man. This phenomenon may be related to the fact that women understand that this is a strictly male role, idealizing patriarchal family organization (28) . This situation is anchored at the social demand for having a male reference at home, a factor culturally presented as a condition for the success of the family.…”

“…The support for the family appears in the statements as inherent to the male condition, which is essential and indispensable for reaching and stabilizing this position. From an early age, boys are positively reinforced about work, not only as a means of guaranteeing the maintenance of their personal and family expenses (28) but mainly for the preservation of honor and male power (20) .…”

Couples’ Economic Equilibrium, Gender Norms and Intimate Partner Violence in Kirumba, Tanzania

“…They may feel less threatened by language and imagery that does not undermine the normative constructions of manhood. Programmes can ease men and women into new gender roles, for example, by promoting the notion of shared economic burden, so that women's entry in the workforce is not perceived as a sign of men's failure but rather as a need to adapt to the changing material realities of families (Stern, Heise, & McLean, 2017).…”