Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
1-31-1990
Degree Name
Master of Science in Management - (M.S.)
Department
School of Industrial Management
First Advisor
Miriam K. Mills
Abstract
The informal industrial sector has in recent years been recognized by development agencies as an important area of economic activity which is capable of creating employment opportunities. This sector is also growing faster than its formal counterpart.
In developing countries, women dominate the informal sector by virtue of their traditional and unique roles in food processing, pottery and* basketry, alcholic beverage brewing, handicrafts, clothweaving, cosmetic manufacturing and a host of manufacturing activities. However due to a general misconception about the actual economic roles of women in society, very little attempt is made by development planners and agencies to improve their activities in this sector. The result is that women use obsolete traditional methods that are low yielding, time consuming and even at times unsafe and dangerous. Their productivity is thus very low and economically unviable.
The economic rewards that accrue from these activities are also meagre, thus making these women overworked and underpaid despite the fact that they make tremendous contributions to the wellbeing of their families, their societies and the economies of their countries as a whole.
This study sets out to look at the participation of women in selected informal industrial activities namely food processing, edible oil extraction and soap manufacturing. Attention will be given to work patterns, technologies, existing mutual work arrangements, economic structure of the families and problems faced by women involved in such activities.
The study also seeks to identify the Human Resource issues that exist as a result of this state of affairs with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the role of women both as a human and economic resource in Africa.
The study expects to confirm findings of other studies, such as lack of access to capital, credit facilities, technological innovations and the use of economically unviable traditional methods by women in the developing countries
To combat some of the identified problems recommendations will be made on the need to organize the women into cooperatives to enable them' generate mutual funds, acquire loans, educate themselves, disseminate information on new technologies and take advantage of co-operative ventures.
Recommended Citation
DeGanus, Ayorkor Eulalie, "The role of African women in informal industry : a case study" (1990). Theses. 2647.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2647
