Beyond Ownership: Gendered Asset Relations and Household Economic Resilience in a Post-Disaster Rural Community in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines gender relations in asset ownership and their connection to household economic resilience. The research employed an exploratory qualitative approach through structured interviews, observations, and documentation. Data were analyzed thematically by focusing on asset ownership, access, control over benefits, decision-making authority, and livelihood strategies. The findings reveal that formal ownership does not necessarily correspond to economic control. Agricultural assets may be legally owned by men, while women often manage production outputs and household finances. Women also contribute significantly to livelihood diversification through trading activities when agricultural production is disrupted. In inheritance practices, principles of equal distribution may coexist with decision-making authority that remains gendered. Household economic resilience is further supported by occupational diversification, mutual cooperation, and the collective management of resources. This study highlights the importance of understanding gender relations in asset management beyond formal ownership by considering access, control over benefits, and decision-making authority as key dimensions of economic resilience.