Strategies of Survival: The Well-being of Builsa Women in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana.

Authors

  • Eunice Abbey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.417.3649

Keywords:

Ghana, Rural Women, Well-being, Disadvantages, Thriving, Qualitative.

Abstract

The rural women in Northern Ghana face some persistent constraints that hamper their efforts to enjoy well-being. These have been linked to combined systems of patriarchy, socio-cultural values, environmental and economic issues. Whilst a lot of studies have been done on the challenges of the rural women in these areas, little is known on their ability to thrive in the midst of their numerous disadvantages. Inferring from the Community Capitals Framework by Flora and Flora (2013), this paper highlights some of the disadvantages encountered by the women whilst emphasizing the measures adopted to enhance their well-being. Using the qualitative research method, 20 women from two villages in the Upper East Region served as the participants. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews and Observation. The findings revealed the women were able to adopt means such as engaging in income generating activities, religion, harnessing resources from their natural capital amongst others to thrive regardless of their disadvantages.

Author Biography

Eunice Abbey

Eunice Abbey is currently a final year PhD student in the department of Applied Social Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She had her first degree in Social Work and Psychology at the University of Ghana and an MPhil program in Health Promotion and Development at the University of Bergen, Norway. Her research interests are in gender studies particularly on well-being and health promotion for women in rural settings. Prior to studying at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she was actively involved in some social projects for rural women in Ghana. 

References

Abankwah, V., & Abebe, M. (2011). Economic empowerment of rural women in Northern Ghana through indigenous rural enterprises. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 13(2), 106-115.

Adusei, E., & Bull, T. (2013). “Their smiles behind the tears”: Stressors and resistance resources amongst mothers in Bolni village. International Journal of Social Sciences, 18(1), 81-94.

Akudugu, A. M., Dittoh, S., & Mahama, E. S. (2012). The implications of climate change of food security and rural livelihoods: experiences from Northern Ghana. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2(3), 1-10.

American Psychological Association. (2015). The road to resilience. Retrieved 30/03/2016 http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx

Andvik, C. (2010). Social determinants of health in very poor ruralities. Striving and thriving in dire conditions: Is it possible? (Master of Philosophy), University of Bergen.

Ashton, K., & Jones, C. (2013). Geographies of human well-being. Australia: Geography Teachers’ Association of Victoria Inc.

Avotri, J. Y., & Walters, V. (1999). You just look at our work and see if you have any freedom on earth: Ghanaian women's accounts of their work and health. Social Science and Medicine, 48, 1123-1133.

Builsa District Assembly. (2006). Retrieved 02/05/2015. http://builsa.ghanadistricts.gov.gh/?arrow=atd&_=104&sa=3965

Bull, T., & Mittlemark, M. B. (2010). Living conditions and determinants of social position amongst women of childbearing age in very poor ruralities: Qualitative exploratory studies in India, Ghana and Haiti. International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), 5(1), 156-161.

Bull, T., Mittlemark, M., & Kanyeka, N. E. (2013). Assets for well-being for women living in deep poverty: through a salutogneic looking-glass. Critical Public Health, 23(2), 160-173.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design; qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London: Sage Publications.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2012).Gender Equity and Rural Employment Division Gender inequalities in rural employment in Ghana. Retrieved 21/15/2015 http://www.fao,org/docrep/oi6/ap091e/ap091e00.pdf

Kwekudee, K. (2013). A trip down the memory lane Retrieved 02/05/2015 http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.hk/2013/12/bulsa-builsa-people-warrior-and-slave.html

Natural Resources Institute. The livelihoods approach factsheet, part of a series produced by NRI for its short course and MSc Programme. (2000). University of Greenwich;Catham, UK.

Prescott-Allen, R. (2001). The well-being of nations. Washington DC: Island Press.

Prugh, T., Costanza, R., Cumberland, J. H., Herman, D., Goodland, R., & Norgaard, R. B. (1995). Natural capital and human economic survival. USA: ISEE Press.

Searle, B. A. (2008). Well-being: in search of a good life? United Kingdom: The Policy press.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2006). Retrieved 08/05/2015 http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/publications/AEO-2/content/034.html

Zereyesus, Y., Aleksan, S., Rosi, K., & Amanor, V. (2014). An empirical analysis of household well-being in Northern Ghana. Retrieved 30/03/2015 http://ageconsearch.umn.edu//handle/170654

Downloads

Published

2017-09-04

How to Cite

Abbey, E. (2017). Strategies of Survival: The Well-being of Builsa Women in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 4(17). https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.417.3649

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 17 (2017): Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Section

Articles

License

Authors wishing to include figures, tables, or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) for both the print and online format and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.