Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Projects

Patriarchy, Pandemic, and Productivity: A Study of Dual Earner Households

Lead Researcher: (opens in a new window)Prof. Supriya Garikipati

Funded by: Overseas Development Assistance, UK

Partnership Institutions: University of Reading, Shreedhan

Short Description: This study examines the reconfiguration of work and domestic responsibilities in dual-income households in India during the COVID-19 lockdowns, highlighting the entrenched gender norms within softly patriarchal structures. Despite both partners contributing economically, the burden of unpaid domestic work continues to fall disproportionately on women. Collaborating with the Indian NGO Shreedhan, the project utilises a survey administered to 585 working women to analyse shifts in household dynamics. Preliminary findings suggest that even when external domestic help was inaccessible, men’s contribution to household chores remained minimal, underscoring the resilience of patriarchal norms and its impact on women’s labour market participation.

Digital Exclusion Among Families with Children

Lead Researcher: (opens in a new window)Prof. Supriya Garikipati

Funded by: The Nuffield Foundation, UK

Partnership Institutions: University of Liverpool, Loughborough University, Good Things Foundation

Description: This project seeks to develop a Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS) to ensure equitable digital access for UK households with children, focusing on the specific challenges these families face in integrating digital technology into daily life for work, education, and health. Working closely with the Welsh Government, the project expands the MDLS framework to Welsh families, exploring gender dynamics and the disproportionate digital burden on women in household management and children’s online education. The research aims to establish a benchmark for digital inclusion, starting with urban households and expanding to encompass diverse family structures across the UK. For more information, visit https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/project/developing-minimum-digital-living-standard-households-with-children

Gendered Dimensions of Hunger in Peacebuilding

PI: Caitriona Dowd (with Liezelle Kumalo, Centre for Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Johannesburg, SA)

Funder: Irish Research Council

Partnering institutions: Centre for Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Johannesburg, SA

Short description: The Gendered Dimensions of Hunger in Peacebuilding (GDHP) project is a three-year Irish Research Council-funded COALESCE project that investigates whether and how gendered aspects of food insecurity and food rights have been addressed in peacebuilding and peace processes. It seeks to understand how women and girls’, and men and boys’, experiences of food insecurity and/or violations of their right to food during conflict, have been considered and included in post-conflict transitions. The overall aim of the research is to produce evidence that can be used to improve peacebuilding and post-conflict transitions. Specifically, we hope the outcomes of this research can improve how women and girls’, and men and boys’, rights and experiences are included and addressed in post-conflict political processes.

The research leaders can be contacted directly (caitriona.dowd@ucd.ie and lkumalo@csvr.org.za) with specific queries or requests for information.

Trade-Related Assistance for Development: Evidence from Microlevel Evaluations (TRADE ME)

PI: Dr. Samuel Brazys

Funder: Irish Research Council

Partnering institutions: N/A

Short descriptionThe primary objective is to impact the understanding the allocation, effectiveness and impact of foreign aid contingent on institutional and gendered scope conditions. The project moves beyond the state-of-the-art via a ground-breaking, aggregated micro-level, analysis which utilizes firm-surveys in two developing countries.  The project mitigates the risks of data collection by using overlapping survey techniques and the enlistment of local expertise.

Centre for Sustainable Development

Newman Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7777 |