The feminization of labour in the flower industry in Naivasha, Kenya

Abstract

This study examines the feminization of labour in the flower industry in Naivasha, Kenya. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the significance of the structural characteristics on the gender division of labour in the flower firms in Naivasha: to asses the impact of no-liberal policies on the feminization of labour in the flower industry in Naivasha and to investigate the effect of women's employment ill the flower industry on the public and private space. The theoretical framework employed in this study is the feminist geography approach . .This approach, which has recently come to the fore in gender analysis is important as it has helped to understand how the public space is changing leading to the proliferation of women in its activities This approach has also helped in understanding how women who are engaged in paid work are reconciling the productive ad reproductive roles in the public and domestic spaces respectively. The findings of this study are based on information gathered from a sample of eight flower firms and 230 employees who comprised 86 men and 144 women The techniques employed to acquire the sample were simple and stratified random sampling for firms and employees respectively. Data from the firms and employees was gathered by use of a structured questionnaire In-depth interviews were also conducted for the case studies. Secondary data sources included the firms, government, HCDA, KFC and FPEAK's records. Data was analysed descriptively by use of statistics such as means, frequencies, percentages and cross-tabulations factor analysis was the only inferential statistical tool that was used to analyse data. Factor analysis was used to find out whether the effects of no-liberal policies have influenced the feminization of labour in the flower industry. It was also used to establish whether sharing of household tasks, emergence of female headed households and engagement of household helpers among others have occurred as a result of women; s engagement in the flower industry.

The firms' structural characteristics which proved significant in influencing the feminization of labour in the flower industry include technology; skills; diversification and the firms' rate of growth. Other factors considered along side the structural characteristics and which influence the feminization of labour are the social-cultural and management strategies. It was, for instance, found out that it is a social-cultural belief that women tend to work in the flower firms better than men because of their "nimble" fingers and that il is all extension or their domestic activities The findings also indicate that implementation of nee-liberal policies has in part influenced the feminization of labour in the flower industry in Naivasha. It was found that nee-liberal policies have led to the rapid expansion of !lower firms in Naivasha, creating job opportunities particularly for women. The current economic austerity programmes which is a characteristic of neo_liberal policies has partly pushed many women into paid work (such as the flower industry) to enable them to "survive". In addition, social problems such as divorce or widowhood have also pushed many women into the flower industry ill Naivasha. This study further reveals that women's engagement in paid work tends to alter both the public and private spaces. This study found out that some women have managed to acquire managerial and supervisory positions and that there exists no wage gap between men and women who perform similar tasks in the flower industry in Naivasha. An increasing number of women have also been able to enjoy full-time employment as men do. Other aspects that indicate gender redefinitions in the public space include women's membership in the trade unions, access to bonuses and overtime pay among other benefit schemes. In the domestic space, this study reveals that women's engagement in the flower industry has altered the; gender divisions of labour in the domestic space. This is . indicated by aspects such as sharing of household tasks among family members including men. The study shows that sharing of household tasks, engagement of household helpers, emergence of day care centres and avaiiability of children's health and education facilities have enabled women to reconcile their productive and reproductive roles. Other aspects of the redefinition of the gender division of labour in the domestic space include female-headed households and women's increased household decision making.