A person’s relationship to land is a key determinant of their wellbeing, identity, and influence across the world. Strengthening land rights specifically for women and girls over the course of their life cycle can transform unequal but accepted gender dynamics, creating positive change in the life trajectories of women and girls, and increasing social, economic, and political gender equality.

This document first explores land-related norms, traditions, and practices around the globe that operate across a woman’s life cycle to diminish her value and undermine her security and opportunities. Examples are provided from numerous countries to provide nuance and comparisons across regions and a variety of national and local contexts. We see that the vulnerabilities fostered in one stage of a woman’s life give rise to and sustain her vulnerabilities in later stages, creating and entrenching life-long disadvantages that deny her safety and security, full livelihood opportunities, and respect from community and self. These factors collectively create a cycle of deprivation and violence related to land; gender discrimination and violence; and perpetuate landlessness for women.