Role of rural Haitian women in development

A description of the socioeconomic setting of Haitian rural women highlights traditional values -- the importance of marriage (legal or customary) and children and the authority of the husband. To show the involvement of Haitian women in commerce, their predominant economic role, sketches are provided of marchandes (market ladies) in different regions. Marchandes sell their own produce or, more frequently, travel to country markets where they buy large quantities to resell wholesale in the cities. These activities may be threatened by the recent road network expansion if there is a shift to bulk cargo transport. Women also participate in charcoal production, kitchen gardens, harvesting, and raising small animals. Although non-farm employment opportunities for Haitian women are very limited, they do exist and include gravel making, cassava making, commercial weaving, factory jobs, salt collection, castor oil production, handicrafts, domestic service, prostitution, the roles of midwife and witchdoctor, and home industry (e.g., seamstress). A major constraint on women"s employment options is the lack of a system to teach women the skills needed for economic advancement. Women have benefited from "Food for Work" programs run through community councils (one of the few successful community organization efforts in Haiti). The author recommends assistance strategies for women that focus on: (1) agricultural insurance credit to increase production of internally marketed produce and increase women"s involvement in commerce; (2) making seed available for kitchen gardens; (3) French language instruction; (4) home industry expansion; (5) cooperatives based on the extended family; (6) markets for handicrafts; (7) teaching women new trades or skills, which they are enthusiastic to learn; and (8) women"s primary needs and traditional values. A 44-item list of references (1940-81) is included.