ABSTRACT
Development studies scholars recognize that the rights, entitlements, and material well-being of men and women must be equal for food security can be enjoyed by all. However, it is difficult to apply household level survey findings to the question of how gender shapes food security. In Southern African cities, gendered social identities and food insecurity among poor households are highly interconnected. This chapter foregrounds intersectionality as a feminist analytical tool to test the influence of the gender of a household head in relation to three measures: (1) the number of adults in the household; (2) the age of the household head; and (3) the education level of the household head. Taking Blantyre, Malawi and Gaborone, Botswana as case studies, this chapter demonstrates the value of a gender lens of analysis for developing a balanced understanding of contextual factors and general factors shaping food insecurity in Southern African cities.
