Women and Water

Question 1

Summary:

Answer 1

1. Collecting water is seen as work done by women and children
2. To get water, women walk from 6 to 20 km/day
3. The time taken is from 5hrs to all day
4. Women often carry in excess of 20kg of water per trip

Question 2

Women carry water in 4 basic ways that are linked to effects on their skeletal anatomy. What are the 4 carrying methods?

Answer 2

• head
• hips
• shoulders
• combinations (e.g. back+head, shoulders+back)

Question 3

The most energy-efficient method:

Answer 3

1. yoke
2. bundles carried by hand and hip
3. Back and head
4. Shoulders

Question 4

Additional effects on women’s health:

Answer 4

1. lack of water prevents women from practicing proper hygiene
2. women resume fetching water soon after giving birth affecting breast milk quantity and quality
3. carrying water with a head strap leaves a marked cranial depression causing some women to suffer from continual headaches
4. excessive neck muscle development can lead to problems with the thyroid gland
5. fractures, slipped discs, and damage to knees

Question 5

Knock on effects:

Answer 5

1. Forces children (especially girls) to miss school
2. Make women forego opportunities to engage in snall business enterprises
3. Limits the ability to grow and water vegetables