ABSTRACT
Povertyandpatriarchal1customaretheprincipalobstacleswomenface intryingtosetupindependenthouseholds.2Hayawomenarethemost productivemembersoftheirsocietybutparadoxicallyarethepoorest. ThisstudyoffourvillagesinHayaland,confirmedacommontendency inruralAfrica:womencarriedoutapproximatelytwo-thirdsofallwork butonlyearnedonethirdoftheaggregatecashincome.Mostoftheir meagerincomeswasusedtocareforchildrenleavinglittlesavingsor capitalaccumulation.Women,outofnecessity,havedevelopedawork ethicandskillsatmanagingtheirmeagerresources.Thischapter exploresthemainreasonswhywomenaredisadvantaged.These women'sresourcefulnesssuggeststheneedtoincreasetheirpoweras consumersanddecision-makersinordertopromoteregional development.
