Gender Differentiated Food Security: Productivity Traps in Malawian Agriculture

Many farmers in less developed countries do not have access to resources to increase their food production, and women’s access is more limited due to cultural and social gendered norms and practices. Using household level... [ view full abstract ]

Many farmers in less developed countries do not have access to resources to increase their food production, and women’s access is more limited due to cultural and social gendered norms and practices. Using household level data from Malawi, this study applies a feminist political ecology framework to investigate what inhibits households to be food secure, if they are the ones producing food. Results from multiple negative binomial regressions suggest that households headed by females are more likely to be food insecure. However, when variables representing different forms of power were controlled for, the direct effects of gender disappeared from the model. These findings suggest that various forms of gendered rights and responsibilities in Malawi may be structuring the total effect of food insecurity in farmer households. Women farmers have multiple roles to play in as a producer, reproducer and consumer, that differ substantially from men’s knowledge and practice as farmers. Understanding the gendered differences in power, by uncovering the barriers and access to productive resources and knowledge along multiple levels, is critical to creating a gender-equitable and sustainable food system.