An Analysis to the Participation of Women in Decision Making in Environmental Policy Development: A Case of Mutasa District

Abstract

Participation in decision making has drawn the attention of many scholars and studies have been conducted based on academic stand points. However, seldom are there adequate recognition of women’s contribution in decision making in the protection and management of the environment. This served as the inspiration for author to carry out a qualitative research on women’s involvement in decision making in the environment protection and management policy building. To portray a realistic picture of women’s participation in the environment management this paper has chosen to explore the reason why women do not participate in decision making processes like policy development and its effects to the nation. In an attempt to discover their perceptions and empowerment in decision making the environment policy was used. To look into the subtleness of women’s emotions and thoughts the paper employed the feminist and eco feminist perspectives which draw upon the oppression of women supported by interviews , focus group discussions, case studies and questionnaires. This study high lights the reason for reservations among women in decision making and policy development. All women expressed their serious complains on environment problems and have confirmed their relegation in decision making.