Femmes et héritage familial dans la province du Logone occidental au Tchad : cas de la ville de Moundou

Abstract

The present study, entitled “Women and family inheritance in Chad's Logone Occidental Province: the case of the town of Moundou”, stems from an observation of the situations experienced by women in Chad, and particularly those in Moundou. In view of this situation, laws have been drafted to ensure equitable management of family inheritance by the government and partners in terms of allocation policies, and with the aim of having a concerted policy on access to family inheritance. Despite all this, the marginalization of women has hardly changed, and it is clear that they are still dominated by men in the city of Moundou. The aim of this study is therefore to analyze, understand and explain family inheritance problems in the Logone Occidental province of Chad. Thus, the main objective of this research work is to identify and analyze the factors that oppress women's access to inheritance in the province of Logone Occidental, particularly in the town of Moundou. In order to achieve this main objective, we posed the following question: How can we understand the status of women with regard to access to family inheritance in Moundou? The main hypothesis is that women in Moundou are marginalized in the process of sharing, or rather redistributing, family inheritance. To be able to carry out this field research, we mobilize two methods of data collection: qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative method uses the following field data collection tools: direct observation; documentary research; semi-structured interviews; interview guide; observation grid. The quantitative method uses sampling and questionnaires as field data collection tools. As for the choice of theory to justify this research, we have two: Serge MOSCOVICI's theory of collective representation Nicole VAN ENIS's patriarchy, insofar as we justify that everything is held by men the power of political decision (a mechanism of transmissions set up, occupation and seizure of property - decision to return to the person by attribution, to whom and when), economic decision-making power (distribution and redistribution of inheritance). Our findings: the causes of women's discrimination in access to family inheritance are: the weight of tradition, social organization and religion (Christian and Islamic); the effects of women's marginalization in access to family inheritance are: loss of property, poverty, trauma and intra-family conflict; strategies to reduce the marginalization of women in access to family inheritance are: revising inheritance laws, raising public awareness and using the courts; the woman of Moundou is considered a negligible player in the decision-making process linked to family inheritance. She is seen as a “starter” for marriage. When she inherits, there are limits to certain assets such as land, house, bank account.