Economic Abuse, Informal Work, and Gendered Household Power Relations in Uganda

Women’s participation in the informal economy remains a defining feature of labour markets in many developing contexts, yet its implications for intra-household economic dynamics and social wellbeing remain insufficiently theorized. This study examines the relationship between informal employment and experiences of economic abuse among women in Uganda through a hybrid conceptual–literature review approach. Drawing on feminist political economy, household bargaining theory, labour market segmentation theory, and the capability approach, the analysis synthesizes interdisciplinary scholarship to explore how structural labour inequalities intersect with household power relations. The findings suggest that while informal employment provides critical livelihood opportunities, its precarious nature, combined with entrenched gender norms and limited social protection, often reinforces patterns of economic dependency and vulnerability. Economic abuse emerges as a key mechanism mediating the relationship between women’s labour participation and social wellbeing outcomes. By integrating labour market analysis with gendered household dynamics, the study contributes to debates on economic empowerment and highlights the need for gender-responsive social protection and institutional reforms in informal labour economies.

Gender-based violence; Social wellbeing; Urban households; Informal economy; Uganda; Feminist theory; Qualitative thematic analysis

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