The Curse or Fertility of Land Clearing: How Migrant Labour Modified Gender-Based Division of Labour in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Gender-based division of labour is a system practised throughout the world; in precolonial times Southern Highlands Tanzania was no exception. Given that gender-based established by tradition, it feared breaching cultural norms transgressing boundaries would bring on curse. Even so, women assumed extra burden tasks left their migrant husbands. This included clearing land, which chiefly man’s duty, and so meant violating norms. Since traditionally had not been obliged to clear they employed various tactical strategies facilitate this, such as paying available men perform task. We argue this article decision, despite its complexity, promoted women’s decision-making enabled them enjoy degree autonomy manage all stages crop cultivation. In analysing data, we use Gender Analysis Framework, captures central issues gender. The results show that, apart from other mechanisms, phenomenon male boosted status women, well autonomy. Consequently, gained more – situation for one ‘fertility’ rather than