The situation of women in Kachin State

Diaplacement and gender differences
Displacement and resettlement from dam projects affect women differently than men. Dis-
placement breaks up existing communities and extended family networks; because women tend
to be less mobile than men, the breakdown of family, village and social units affects them much more severely. Once resettled, the greater mobility of men makes it easier for them
to seek waged work in towns or alternative jobs as compared to women.

In his study for the World Commission on Dams, Marcus Colchester writes that after resettleme-
nt: "Overall, incomes declined, gathered foods became sdarcer and firewood hard to find. The women found it hard to carry on their traditional weaving and basketry, as they had lost access
to forests from which to collect the materials........ Compensation, which should have been paid to both men and women as co-owners of the land, was only paid to male heads of household.
Some husbands abandoned wives,taking the money and setting up house with other women.
In some cases womenheaded hoouseholds, widows for example, were excluded from compen-
sation.

The World Bank also acknowledges that women are harder hit by resettlement than men since
they are more likely to earn their living from small businesses lacated at or near their residen-
ces. Women may also be affected disproportionately in rural areas since they are more often
dependent on common property resources.



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