Abstract:
This study assesses gender discrimination against women in accessing financial
capital, focusing on Rombo District within the Kilimanjaro Region. The research is
guided by three specific objectives, to examine the extent of gender discrimination
against women in accessing financial capital, to identify the factors contributing to
this discrimination and to explore the challenges women face in accessing financial
capital in the Rombo District. The study is informed by gender discrimination
theory, feminist theory and access to capital finance theory along with a conceptual
framework. A qualitative research approach was employed, with a sample size of 24
participants, including 18 women from Rombo District, 03 loan officers from
CRDB, NMB and TCB/POSTA Bank and 03 social workers from Mengwe, Holili
and Mkuu Rombo/Mokala wards. Participants were selected using stratified random
and purposive sampling. Data collection methods included interviews and
documentary reviews. Findings revealed that gender discrimination in accessing
financial capital that persists in Rombo District is based on cultural norms that
exclude women from inheriting assets and land. The exclusion causes the women
lack collateral requirements for loans, lack of education to women, lack of property
ownership, credit barriers and education barriers. Further house holder
responsibilities and mobility constraints and also limited access to information and
networks contribute as gender discrimination factors .The study recommends curing
gender discrimination against women in financial issues. To remove cultural barriers
which marginalised women, to provide education to the community about gender
equality, to open women desks in financial institutions discussing issues of loan
equality and informs policymakers by elaborating the specific barriers women face
in accessing financial capital and the systemic factors contributing these challenges
to remove it these illegal cultural norms.
