Participation of women in by-law administration

Abstract

This study examines the factors that have caused failure to involve women in by-law administration in Tanzania. It uses Iringa District Council as a case study and field data gathered from January to October 2002. The central theme is how the socio-cultural tradition of man’s dominance has lowered women’s participation in by-law administration at a village level. The study analyses various stages of decision making in by-law administration; it moves from the household level through the village government level. The study reveals that women are socio-culturally secluded. They are not consulted and/or when they are, men – even on by-laws that affect them directly, make the decisions.