Abstract:
This study investigated the role of wool and mohair industry in promoting gender participation
in the industry. The aim was to understand the extent and nature of male and female
involvement, exploring the stages of participation, livelihood improvement, policies and
initiatives and the relationship between the demographic attributes and stages of participation,
livelihood improvement, policies and initiatives. Qualitative data was collected using one on
one interviews with ten key informants and the results were used to inform the quantitative
data collection from one hundred and twenty LNWMGA wool and mohair growers from
Semonkong.
Findings revealed significant gender disparities suggesting that wool and mohair industry had
limit effect in promoting equal gender participation as women’s participation was limited by
societal expectations and domestic responsibilities, and cultural norms, perceived expertise and
lack of policies which favoured men in leadership roles, resulting in male dominance. The
majority of growers (82.5%) confirmed men participate more while women’s participation was
(16.7%). The chi square test was also used to determine the association between wool and
mohair growers’ demographics and participation. The findings revealed that there is no
association between the variables (equal participation, stages of participation, livelihood
improvement and policies and initiatives) with gender, age, marital status and education.
While, livelihood improvement, policies and stages of participation had the significant
association with age and education. The wool and mohair industry does not promote gender
participation especially equal participation.
