Paper short abstract:

The paper interrogates how gender norms shape land access in rural areas to the detriment of women and girls, based on Zimbabwe as the heuristic case. The paper is activist and contributes to efforts for enhancing and sustaining gender norms change for the benefit of all.

Paper long abstract:

Diversity and change acknowledged gender inequality and injustice are enduring barrages to inclusive development globally. Achieving gender equality is topical in frameworks, protocols and policies yet negative gender norms continue to mire the productive, reproductive and protective dimensions of the wellbeing of mainly women and girls, while acknowledging diversity within these general categories. At a time when scholars and practitioners are navigating effective pathways for eliminating gender norms that create, facilitate and sustain gender inequality and injustice, this paper interrogates the interface of gender norms, land access and gender justice in Zimbabwe’s resettlement areas. These areas were borne out of the need to reverse racial inequalities in land tenure, enhancing equity in land access, creating agricultural production hubs, and transforming development. Yet, how gender norms are playing out in relation to land access and livelihoods requires more nuanced exploration. Principal to the paper are four questions: a) What are the roots and routes of gender norms and inequality in resettlements? b) How are gender norms shaping land access in relation to gender compartmentalisation – men, women and girls, and within these broad categories? c) What are the changes and continuities in gender norms in relation to land access, ownership, use and transfer? d) How can gender norms change in resettlements and broadly rural areas be broadened and sustained? Overall, the paper is activist in orientation and pushes a transformative agenda for gender norms change for the benefit of women and girls.