Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya
This paper explores the geographies of displacement and land dispossession issues in Kenya that have created social inequalities and affected the livelihood options, health, and wellbeing of displaced senior women. It draws from a qualitative study of senior women (aged ≥50 years) who have experienc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558122000392 |
| _version_ | 1811178586112000000 |
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| author | E.O. Onyango S.J. Elliott |
| author_facet | E.O. Onyango S.J. Elliott |
| author_sort | E.O. Onyango |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explores the geographies of displacement and land dispossession issues in Kenya that have created social inequalities and affected the livelihood options, health, and wellbeing of displaced senior women. It draws from a qualitative study of senior women (aged ≥50 years) who have experienced displacement and are currently living in the central region of Kenya. The women took part in two focus group discussions (n = 24 participants) and three in-depth interviews (n = 3). The paper is informed by two frameworks: accumulation by dispossession and the eco-social frameworks to explore how the land tenure system has contributed to land dispossession and the many associated cycles of post-election violence in Kenya. The paper narrates how forced evictions due to colonization and subsequent privatization of community commons such as land have affected people's lives and livelihoods, particularly the livelihood options available to women hence creating points of stress and distress. As women navigate the challenges of displacement and land dispossession coupled with environmental changes, they must also manage the accompanying worries and uncertainties related to providing basic needs for their families and ensuring the sustainability of their lineage. As a result, the experiences of hardship and “worrying too much” are embodied and reflected in the health and wellbeing of senior women. Addressing the challenges of displacement and land dispossession is paramount in Kenya's effort to becoming a prosperous nation with a high quality of life for all its citizens but especially for those experiencing land dispossession. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:20:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-989bcb2272294697992772a28a3d0fb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5581 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:20:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-989bcb2272294697992772a28a3d0fb72022-12-22T04:40:34ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812022-01-013100110Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in KenyaE.O. Onyango0S.J. Elliott1School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Canada; Corresponding author at: School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, CanadaThis paper explores the geographies of displacement and land dispossession issues in Kenya that have created social inequalities and affected the livelihood options, health, and wellbeing of displaced senior women. It draws from a qualitative study of senior women (aged ≥50 years) who have experienced displacement and are currently living in the central region of Kenya. The women took part in two focus group discussions (n = 24 participants) and three in-depth interviews (n = 3). The paper is informed by two frameworks: accumulation by dispossession and the eco-social frameworks to explore how the land tenure system has contributed to land dispossession and the many associated cycles of post-election violence in Kenya. The paper narrates how forced evictions due to colonization and subsequent privatization of community commons such as land have affected people's lives and livelihoods, particularly the livelihood options available to women hence creating points of stress and distress. As women navigate the challenges of displacement and land dispossession coupled with environmental changes, they must also manage the accompanying worries and uncertainties related to providing basic needs for their families and ensuring the sustainability of their lineage. As a result, the experiences of hardship and “worrying too much” are embodied and reflected in the health and wellbeing of senior women. Addressing the challenges of displacement and land dispossession is paramount in Kenya's effort to becoming a prosperous nation with a high quality of life for all its citizens but especially for those experiencing land dispossession.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558122000392 |
| spellingShingle | E.O. Onyango S.J. Elliott Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| title | Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya |
| title_full | Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya |
| title_short | Traversing the geographies of displacement, livelihoods, and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in Kenya |
| title_sort | traversing the geographies of displacement livelihoods and embodied health and wellbeing of senior women in kenya |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558122000392 |
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