Participatory Action Research for Womens Empowerment

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Participatory Action Research for Womens
Empowerment

• Authors Ayesha Aziz, Meenaz Shams Kausar S.
  Khan
• Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan

Presentation at UCEC Pinang. 23-26 November 2009
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Empowerment

• Multifaceted concept
• Womens empowerment is related to power
  structures that surround them
• WEMC RPC
• womens empowerment as an an increased ability
  to challenge, and eventually transform, existing
  unfavorable gender systems

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Womens Empowerment

• Altering relations of powerwhich constrain
  womens options and autonomy and adversely affect
  health and well being (Gita Sen 1993)
• A process of women acquiring the experiences,
  knowledge, tools to be able to transform their
  lives and the society (Claessen and Wesemaels
  1992)

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Action Research

• To liberate the human body, mind and spirit in
  search for a better, freer world (Reason
  Bradbury, 2001)
• A collaborative approach to inquiry or
  investigation that provides people with the means
  to take systematic action to resolve specific
  problems (Stringer, 1999)

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Participatory Action Research for Womens
Empowerment

• Research methods that go beyond the process of
  knowledge creation (Gaventa, 1988)
• Empowerment approaches must create contexts in
  which heretofore silent and isolated peoplegain
  understanding, voice and influence over decisions
  that affect their lives (Rappaport 1990)

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The Research Context
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Research Sites
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Action Research Model For Womens Empowerment
ENRICHMENT
Reflection Discussion on future steps
Analysis Identifying needs for continuing
groups work
Reflection Open discussion on women issues
Action Training, CBGT, negotiation with men
linkage with other groups
Step 5 Tracking Action for Change
Analysis Public acceptance of women issues
Reflection Defining extent of priority problems
Action Public speaking formation of women
groups
ENRICHMENT
Analysis Identifying solutions
Step 4 Policy Dialogue
Reflection Collective review of findings and
policies
Action Practice of public speaking and petition
writing
Analysis Comparing existent realities and policy
entitlements
Step 3 Advocacy Training
Reflection Discussion on perceptions
Analysis Comparing existent situation
aspirations
Action Prioritization of advocacy areas
Step 2 Analysis for Action
Action Change in thoughts and behavior
Adapted from Kemmis, S., McTaggart, R. (1998).
The Action Research Planner (3ed). Geelong
Deakin University.
Step 1 Field Inquiry
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Impact on Womens EmpowermentDemocratization
from Inside Out
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Participatory Action Research for Womens
Empowerment

• Flexible nature of interactions
• Making findings available to participants
• Resourcing the effort
• Process validity

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Empowerment can be catalyzed by any activitybut
always entails a cycle of reflection, analysis
and decision for action. Paolo Freire
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THANK YOU