Atlas of Gender and Development
How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries

Illustrated with graphics and maps, the Atlas of Gender and Development gives readers a unique insight into the impact of social institutions − traditions, social norms and cultural practices − on gender equality in 124 non-OECD countries.
Gender inequality holds back not just women but the economic and social development of entire societies. Overcoming discrimination is important in the fight against poverty in developing countries and for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Tackling these inequalities is not easy: in many countries, discrimination against women is deeply rooted in social institutions such as the family and the law. These long-lasting codes of conduct, norms, traditions, and informal and formal laws determine gender outcomes in education, health, political representation and labour markets.
The Atlas of Gender and Development is an indispensable tool for development practitioners, policy makers, academics and the wider public. It provides detailed country notes, maps and graphics describing the situation of women in 124 developing and transition countries using a new composite measure of gender inequality - the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) - developed by the OECD Development Centre.
"By providing information on the role of underlying social institutions, the Atlas of Gender and Development fills a gap in the reference literature on women and development. Recommended for academic libraries."
-Feminist Collections, Volume 32, No. 1
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Kenya
OECD Development Centre
Kenya is characterised by the co-existence of several institutional frameworks. Unofficial “family codes” and ownership rights vary substantially between three main groups: the Muslim population, traditional society and modern society. In some cases, a given couple may belong to two of these societies. For example, a customary marriage may be followed by a statutory marriage, thereby creating conflicts in relation to the rights and obligations of each spouse. Moreover, some judges do not respect modern institutions, which impacts negatively on the situation of women.
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