*Lecturer, Department of Rural Development and Regional Planning, Institute of Rural Development Planning, Dodoma, Tanzania
**Lecturer, Department of Economic Studies, The Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, Dar es Salaam
The study was done in four selected villages in Dodoma region and three selected streets from Dar es Salaam city and Dodoma town. The intention of the study was to find out how patriarchy ideology influences rural-urban migration for women. Specifically this paper uses some of the findings to explain how patriarchal traditions influences women decision to migrate. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews were employed in data collection in rural areas and towns respectively. It was found out that though women are facing patriarchal constraints in rural areas, migration is not a solution they can easily undertake. Patriarchy traditions become influencing factors on how women evaluate themselves for migration. The socialization process which is patriarchal oriented has influenced the way women evaluate themselves as not meeting the society requirements in migrations decisions they make. Within patriarchal system there have been traditions that deny women their right to control natural resources and what they produce. Consequently, women have ended up poor. Poverty has been an obstacle on women desire for migration but also a problem woman think they can get rid of through rural-urban migration. On the other hand patriarchal marriage arrangements have been unfavorable to women, marriage life has denied women of their freedom and a desire for marriage life has made women dependants over men. Such scenarios have made marriage in general an obstacle on women's decision for migration but also a cause for women rural-urban migration.
Patriarchal tradition, women decision to migrate, women socialization to migrate, women social images
