HOUSEHOLDS, GENDER AND RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION - REFLECTIONS ON LINKAGES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR POLICY

This paper highlights the interrelatedness of gender and household org anization in a central aspect of developmental change: rural-urban mig ration. It demonstrates the significance of intra-household dynamics f or understanding the gender selectivity of population movement and sho ws in turn how this contributes to household diversity among low-incom e groups in both rural and urban areas. It also shows that although mo st women have little choice in determining decisions over their own or others' migration (or household arrangements), the ''feminization'' o f household headship which so often results from demographic mobility is not necessarily negative for women. The paper concludes that govern ments and agencies could do more for gender equality by acknowledging the potentially transformative role olf interventions aimed not only a t, but inside, households, and by adopting more flexible positions tow ards household diversity.