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Taking Power : Women's Empowerment and Household Well-Being in Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Annan,Jeannie Ruth
  • Donald,Aletheia Amalia
  • Goldstein,Markus P.
  • Gonzalez Martinez,Paula Lorena
  • Koolwal,Gayatri B.

Abstract

This paper examines women's power relative to that of their husbands in 23 Sub-Saharan African countries to determine how it affects women's health, reproductive outcomes, children's health, and children's education. The analysis uses a novel measure of women's empowerment that is closely linked to classical theories of power, built from spouses'often-conflicting reports of intrahousehold decision making. It finds that women's power substantially matters for health and various family and reproductive outcomes. Women taking power is also better for children's outcomes, in particular for girls'health, but it is worse for emotional violence. The results show the conceptual and analytical value of intrahousehold contention over decision making and expand the breadth of evidence on the importance of women's power for economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Annan,Jeannie Ruth & Donald,Aletheia Amalia & Goldstein,Markus P. & Gonzalez Martinez,Paula Lorena & Koolwal,Gayatri B., 2019. "Taking Power : Women's Empowerment and Household Well-Being in Sub-Saharan Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9034, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9034
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    Cited by:

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    2. Deißler, Luzia Karin & Krause, Henning & Grote, Ulrike, 2021. "Gender Dynamics and Food Security in the Kenyan African Indigenous Vegetables Supply Chain," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314983, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Davis, Lewis S. & Williamson, Claudia R., 2022. "Individualism and women's economic rights," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 579-597.
    4. Ambler, Kate & Doss, Cheryl & Kieran, Caitlin & Passarelli, Simone, 2022. "Spousal concordance in joint and separate households: Survey evidence from Nepal," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    5. Mwale, Martin Limbikani & Fintel, Dieter von & Marchetta, Francesca & Smith, Anja & Kamninga, Tony Mwenda, 2021. "The Negative Impact of Farm Input Subsidies on Women's Agency in Malawi's Matrilocal Settlements," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315041, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Kelly Pike & Beth English, 2022. "And roses too: How “Better Work” facilitates gender empowerment in global supply chains," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 188-204, January.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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