| Author | Hor Sophea |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-04-03 |
| Subject(s) | Women heads of households--Cambodia--Phnom Penh
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-04-03 |
| Abstract | By looking into the diversified profiles and characters of female-headed households
located in urban (Phnom Penh city) and rural (Battambang Province) area this research
aims to negate the perceived notion of homogeneity of female-headed households that they
are "poorest of the poor" or "one of the several groups of poorest of the poor" or "better
off'.
Studying important historical and archival documents this study first examines how
female-headed households in Cambodia have been treated and imaged in different program
and policy interventions of government and development partners since 1979. This
examination reveals that female-headed households have been imaged and considered in
different importance from different perspectives since that time. Early governments
imaged female-heads of households as master of Khmer national development and
considered as integrated force for developing the country. Since then female-heads of
households have been treated and considered as like as other women and their issues have
been emerged with women issues by the preceding governments.
In the later part this study accomplishes the heterogeneities that exist in the livelihood of
different types of female-headed households namely: divorced, widowed, single-parent,
abandoned and women with out-migrant and disabled husband. Female-headed households
located in rural and urban areas were compared for examining their heterogeneity in this
study in terms of their educational level, income and occupations, stigma and human
capital related constraints they face in work, workplace and social functioning. Femaleheads
of different types in different locations lead differentiated livelihood and they are
differently placed to different social, cultural and economic constraints.
This research shows how the women in female-headed households organize and lead their
livelihood in the contexts of different social and economic constraints they face and
opportunities they enjoy.
Finally this study claims that since female-headed households are socially, cultural and
economically heterogeneous more subtle and thorough approach is needed for appropriate
program interventions for female-headed households. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-04-03 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko |
| Examination Committee(s) | Earth, Barbara;
Perera, Ranjith |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Government of Netherlands;AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |