A Gender Analysis of Forest Product Markets in Cameroon

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Periodical article

Title:	A Gender Analysis of Forest Product Markets in Cameroon
Authors:	Ruiz Perez, Manuel Ndoye, Ousseynou Eyebe, Antoine Ngono, Danielle L.
Year:	2002
Periodical:	Africa Today
Volume:	49
Issue:	3
Period:	Fall
Pages:	97-126
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Cameroon
Subjects:	gender relations trade forest resources market women Women's Issues Economics and Trade abortion divorce
External link:	http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/africa_today/v049/49.3perez.pdf
Abstract:	Gender roles and the potential to tap women's experiences are keys for African economic development. This paper illustrates this potential with a gender analysis of nontimber forest product markets in the humid forest zone of Cameroon by describing the functioning of the market and analysing male-female differences. Fieldwork was conducted in 1995 and 1996 when 25 markets were visited and 253 and 315 traders respectively were interviewed. The results confirm that gender is the main basis for differentiating size of business, product specialization, and market strategies among traders. Priorities to improve trade also show some male-female differences. At the same time, there are no consistent differences in profit margins between genders, indicating that trading efficiency is similar, and that, given the right conditions, women entrepreneurs can be as successful as men. The results also indicate that the gender gap could be closing among the younger generation entering the market. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]