Gender roles and relations in the context of humanitrian intervention among internally displaced persons (idps) in Somalia

Abstract

This study was a cross-sectional exploratory research design on Gender Roles and Relations in the Context of Humanitarian Intervention among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Somalia. Specifically, the study sought to analyze the ways in which gender roles change among IDPs in Somalia and describe how the changes in gender roles affect gender relations among the IDPs. This study was guided by the Moser Gender Planning Framework posing that gender planning encompasses identification of gender roles, assessment of gender needs, disaggregating resources control and making of decision in the household, balancing triple role, deciding between various aims in mediations and including women and gender-sensitive planning. Systematic sampling was used to select household questionnaire respondents while purposive sampling was used to select key informants respondents and focus group discussions participants. Data was collected through Survey, focus group discussions and key informants interviews. Descriptive statistics and presentation using tables and graphs was done for qualitative data analysis while qqualitative data was transcribed and analyzed per objective. The finding reveal that the majority of the IDPs depend on humanitarian intervention for their basic needs and that women are mainly the recipient of the intervention, this has caused changes in the gender roles. The changes in gender roles has had effects on the gender relations as it allowed women to participate in economic activities and manage their homes and families but felt frustrated by the burden of performing both the male and female roles. On the other hand men‟s self-esteem has been affected when women become the target for humanitarian assistance as it takes away one of their primary roles, this has led to the men feeling frustrated and unable to meet their expectation. They also feel women disrespect them The study concludes that the humanitarian intervention has significantly contributed to the changes in gender roles which has had effect on how men and women relate. This impacted negatively both men and women to some extent for women there was some level of positive outcomes. The study recommends adoption of “do no harm approach” by implementing strategies that ensure safe programming through analysis and ensuring both men women understand the benefits of the humanitarian intervention, the study also recommends establishment and roll out of counseling services to the IDPs who have gone through family conflict as well as further research on best practice and how different Somali groups cope with the changes