Women’s economic empowerment and family stability in Kodbuur district, Hargeisa, Somaliland

This study examined the relationship between women's economic empowerment and family stability in Kodbuur District, Hargeisa, Somaliland. The target population comprised 199 households, from which a representative sample of n = 133 respondents was drawn using Slovin's formula. The investigation employed a mixed-methods descriptive, survey, and correlational research design, with primary empirical data collected in October 2025 using structured questionnaires and semi-structured key informant interviews. Quantitative analysed revealed that women’s access to employment does not threaten marital stability or family cohesion (r = -0.713, p < 0.01); rather, increased household earning capacity reduces financial strain and fosters family resilience. Conversely, women's asset ownership exhibits a strong positive correlation with reported domestic violence dynamics (r = 0.876, p < 0.001), operating as a catalyst for domestic tension when sudden shifts in financial decision-making authority challenge traditional patriarchal norms without adequate intra-household communication. Furthermore, female education and skills development significantly enhanced household stability (r = -0.813, p < 0.001) by improving communication, emotional regulation, and dispute resolution capacities. The study concluded that while women's economic empowerment alters traditional authority structures, its overall trajectory remains overwhelmingly supportive of long-term family stability. Strategic recommendations emphasized community-level sensitization campaigns, joint household financial counseling programs, and expanded educational opportunities for women.