Walter H. Baumhoff Fellows Endowment

During the start of the American Civil War, in 1861, the Sea Islands off the coast of Port Royal in South Carolina were soon re-taken by the Union Army. The islands contained large plantations growing corn and cotton, sprawled with fine mansions with colorful and exotic flowers. As the plantation owners saw the Union Navy arrive on their shores, they evacuated. During this haste evacuation, the owners of the fields and enslaved African Americans left behind everything they owned. This event created a truly unique moment for the United States Government. 

Everyone experiences life through a different lens. While we value a constant and universal factor when analyzing data, identity is fluid and ever-changing.

In Kenya, only 6% of rural women have access to land titles, even though they make up approximately 96% of the agricultural labor force. This gap is critical because, in Kenya, the land is an indicator of social status. Moreover, agriculture in Kenya contributes to almost a quarter of the national GDP. This research aimed to understand the significant impacts of the gender gap in land ownership and control on Kenyan rural women’s economic and personal empowerment.