Impact of intimate relationships on livelihood activities of women affected by war in Northern Sri Lanka

The report, based on fieldwork in post-war northern Sri Lanka - looks at how gender norms, beliefs and practices; marriage; and, the termination of an intimate relationship affect women’s livelihoods. It finds that prevailing gender norms expect that a woman be cared for and protected by a male figure, and should primarily remain at home.

Additionally, the study finds that norms around mobility, respectability and unpaid care duties impact on women’s economic opportunities, with particular implications for divorced and widowed women. Additionally,  as the dominant care-givers, women  may have to abandon profitable employment because of the difficulty of looking after their children while going to work.