Gender and Technology Training Guidelines
ROLES OF WOMEN AND MEN
WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD AND COMMUNITY
REPRODUCTIVE
ROLE
WOMEN
MEN
Childbearing and child rearing
Organisation of the household
No continuous
responsibility but may
have occasional customary
domestic tasks
PRODUCTIVE ROLE
Rural areas: often disguised in
subsistence economy or
domestic work
Often is ‘primary’ income
earner (perceived as such
even when unemployed)
Urban areas: mainly in small
scale enterprises (‘informal
sector’) often in household
(often disguised) and
neighbourhood level
Where ‘secondary’ income
earners, make a critical
contribution to income in poor
households
In households headed by
women may be sole income
earner
Often organise around this
role i.e. workers
organisation/trade unions
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