Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement, Women, and Social Security

Development-induced displacement and resettlement is a complex process that disrupts the social, economic, and cultural lives of affected communities. Women, in particular, are disproportionately impacted due to their central roles in household management, community engagement, and cultural preservation. Understanding how resettlement affects women’s social security is critical for designing equitable and effective resettlement policies. This study aims to examine the social and economic impacts of development-induced resettlement on women’s social security, focusing on how displacement alters access to livelihoods, social networks, cultural roles, and overall well-being. The study adopts a qualitative approach based on secondary data. Scholarly journal articles published in refereed academic journals were reviewed, and qualitative content analysis was used to systematically interpret the literature. Michael Cernea’s Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction (IRR) Model was applied as an analytical framework to assess the socio-economic risks women face during and after resettlement. Findings indicate that development-induced resettlement significantly affects women’s social security across multiple dimensions. Socially, resettlement disrupts traditional networks, weakens community bonds, and reduces women’s participation in cultural and social activities. Economically, women face landlessness, joblessness, reduced access to resources, and increased workloads, particularly when male household members migrate for employment. These impacts exacerbate psychological stress, health vulnerabilities, and food insecurity. The study highlights that women’s social security is closely tied to household and community stability, and disruptions in women’s roles have cascading effects on families and communities. Cernea’s IRR Model effectively captures these multidimensional risks, illustrating how each risk uniquely impacts women during resettlement. Development-induced resettlement poses multidimensional challenges to women’s social security. To mitigate these impacts, resettlement planning must incorporate gender-sensitive policies, transparent communication, and active involvement of women at all stages. Ensuring women’s access to resources, decision-making, and compensation is essential for safeguarding their social security, supporting family well-being, and promoting sustainable community development.