Level Of Empowerment Research Articles

Does a woman's life before marriage affect her empowerment level? – Perspective from rural India

PurposeWomen's empowerment is a crucial gender issue and more so in developing countries. Women's empowerment has far-reaching consequences at individual, household, societal and global levels. In this study, the authors focus on the effect of their childhood and pre-marriage conditions on the present level of empowerment in the rural setting in the southern part of India controlling for relevant variables.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the primary data collected from 700 women in southern India's villages. The authors used chi-square to understand the bivariate association between the level of women's empowerment and their socio-economic characteristics including their pre-marriage conditions. Further, multiple regression was used to find out the association between her pre-marriage characteristics and empowerment.FindingsThe study finds a positive association between mothers' education on their daughters' empowerment. Freedom of movement during childhood also had a positive relationship with the current level of empowerment. The study finds a positive effect of self-esteem and self-efficacy on women's empowerment. The authors also found that property in their names and knowledge about their legal rights were associated with higher empowerment. Other important indicators related to higher women's empowerment are household assets and their employment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is a unique attempt to study the effect of conditions before marriage on women's empowerment, especially in the Indian context. The study looks into the relationship between childhood conditions of women in a rural set up including their parents' education and jobs, discrimination faced and upbringing conditions and their current level of empowerment.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2022-0329

The relationship between family empowerment and fine motor, gross motor and cognitive skills in young children with cerebral palsy.

Family empowerment in families of young children with cerebral palsy (CP) is an important consideration because the first few years of life can be overwhelming for parents. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between family empowerment, fine motor (FM), gross motor (GM) and cognitive development in children with CP who were under 3 years of age. Forty-one children with a mean age of 23.8 months participated in this study. The Family Empowerment Scale (FES) was completed by the participants' parents, whereas the FM, GM and cognitive subscales of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third edition (B-III) were administered by physical therapists. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between the FES total and B-III raw scores for FM, GM and cognitive subscales with coefficients ranging from 0.35 to 0.41. Significant relationships were also found between the FES Community subscale and the B-III FM, GM and cognitive subscales. This study provides evidence of a relationship between family empowerment and FM, GM and cognitive abilities in young children with CP, with a greater severity of impairments related to lower levels of caregiver empowerment.

Radio, mobile communications, and women’s empowerment: Experiences in Mathare, Nairobi

This article presents findings from a study of young women’s empowerment through the use of information and communication technology (ICT), specifically the use of radio and mobile communications, in the Mathare informal settlements of Nairobi. Data was collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with young women. The findings were extrapolated through the lens of Longwe’s five- stage women’s empowerment framework (Longwe, 1991). Longwe posits that the empowerment of women can be viewed through a prism of ascension, the initial stage being welfare, followed by access, conscientisation, participation, and then control, the highest level of empowerment. The study finds that the use of radio and mobile communications has empowered many young women to engage in conversations on issues affecting them, and with useful information on how to improve their means of livelihood. At the same time, mobile communications have enabled many young women to achieve financial inclusion by engaging in income-generating activities. In addition, mobile communications have empowered young women by providing them with access to financial services and the ability to manage their finances. Such empowerment, when viewed through the Longwe (1991) framework, is a remarkable progression on empowerment by young women through the initial stages up to the highest levels of participation and control. At the same time, the study finds that the empowerment of young women through ICTs is held back to some extent by socioeconomic and cultural factors that are the result of patriarchal traditions and mindsets.

Empowering Teaching Assistants to Support Students: Impact of Training and Experience on Perceptions and Practices

Teaching assistants (TAs) have a major impact on the undergraduate science student experience, and therefore training TAs is critical to support engagement and learning. We ran a one-day TA training program for two years and found that participation in the program increased TAs’ reflective practice and student-centered teaching over a semester of teaching. Open-ended pre-survey responses indicated that in addition to wanting to learn pedagogical approaches, TAs sought help managing challenging situations and student behaviour. Post-surveys confirmed that the program fulfilled most learning goals of TAs and they subsequently applied the new teaching approaches. Participants indicated high levels of empowerment within their teaching roles across the cognitions of impact, competence and meaningfulness, but low self-determination. All aspects of empowerment increased with experience.

The Empowerment and Independence of Self-Help Farmers in Oil Palm Rejuvenation in Riau Province

This research aims to 1) Study palm oil farming conducted by self-help farmers with reference to the application of ISPO, 2) Review the level of empowerment and independence of self-help palm oil farmers in Riau Province, 3) Analyze factors that have an influence in the level of empowerment and independence of self-help palm oil farmers in Riau Province. The study was conducted in 27 villages in 9 sub-districts of 3 districts in 2019 in Riau Province. The number of samples who became respondents was as many as 270 respondents of self-help palm oil farmers. Analytical methods are used descriptive analysis and Structural Equation Models (SEM). Research shows that the power and independence of self-help farmers is still low in the framework of oil palm rejuvenation in Riau Province according to ISPO criteria. The most dominant indicator affecting the power of farmers and farming groups is the perception of farmers' abilities and followed by agricultural business sapta. The most dominant indicator in influencing the independence of farmers and peasant groups is decision making in the selection of commodity types and marketing system decision making.

The Impact of Stakeholders’ Management Measures on Citizens’ Participation Level in Implementing Smart Sustainable Cities

Smart sustainable cities (SSC) tend to utilise technology to promote themselves by involving their citizens in urban development. Several cities around the world have adopted the “smart city” label in recognition of these advantages. In fact, citizen engagement in public urban development and decision making has been acknowledged globally in many countries; yet, evaluations of the outcomes that allow the contribution of empowerment to be measured and compared with other influences are lacking. This study examines the correlation between stakeholder management measures (SMM) and citizen participation level (CPL) in the process of achieving an SSC. Four SMM factors were extracted from a literature review and sent out to be examined by experts in the field of built environments. Mean score (MS) ranking was used to confirm the importance of these variables in terms of predicting correlations with CPL. The results were generalised by multiple regression analysis techniques. This study shows a positive significant correlation between SMM and CPL in terms of Regulation, Collaboration, Legitimates, and Control. These four predictors make a significant contribution to escalating the levels of engagement and empowerment of citizen participation (CP). This paper contributes to knowledge in the field by identifying pillars that can increase CPL. Our findings could support the stakeholders of SSC projects to raise CPL, not only by hearing their voices but also by delegating power.

Constraints and Opinions of Farm Women Regarding Vocational Trainings Conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Uttarakhand

To analyze the training experience, opinions and constraints of women benefi ciaries (BF) regarding vocational training conducted under KVK Jeolikote. The study was conducted by applying random sampling technique, 45 BF (by using proportional allocation method) and 75 women non-benefi ciaries (NBF) engaged in vocational training from the same area were deeply interviewed using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. A descriptive research design was used for the present investigation. Based on the nature of data, frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean and weighted mean square the weightage of each constraint was calculated and ranked by Garrett’s ranking by the researcher. It was reported that majority of respondents 66.66 per cent felt vocational training as improving farm family living and half of the respondents 54.16 per cent found vocational training programmes as means of promoting gender equality. Lack of fi nancial assistance to start own venture or small-scale enterprise received the highest weighted mean score of 3.1 and were thus ranked fi rst. Information regarding constraints and opinion through group activities involving both vocational and horizontal learning helps in eliminating the barriers that restricts the development of farm women. Theoretical Implications: Vocational training provided by Krishi Vigyan Kendra helps majority of the farming community especially to marginal and a small farm woman to gain women empowerment with the acquaintance of new skill, knowledge and attitudes. This research will provide a thorough understanding of the impact of vocational training provided by KVKs on socio-economic status, trainings skill needed, and level of empowerment after adopting diff erent enterprises. The result of the study may be useful to encourage non-benefi ciaries to join Vocational trainings.

Empowerment in the Management of Business Units

This study examines the mediating role of performance appraisal quality on the association between lower level manager's employee empowerment and their performance, which is assessed in respect to the performance of the business unit that they are held responsible for. Specifically, we address the conjecture concerning whether real autonomy is provided by focusing on the extent to which empowerment extends to another aspect of employees' organisational experience, i.e. their performance appraisal system, and also examine the subsequent impact that the level of employee empowerment has on lower level managers' performance. Covariance Based Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between employee empowerment, the quality of the performance appraisal systems, and business unit performance. The results reveal that employee empowerment exhibits a direct influence on non-financial performance and an indirect influence on financial performance through trust. In addition, trust is found to be significantly positively associated with both financial and non-financial performance. The findings provide managers with an insight into the important role of employee empowered in enhancing business unit performances, and the effectiveness of the performance appraisal system.

The #EndSARS protest and Black cyberfeminism: a study of the Feminist Coalition and the rise of cyber-feminist ideologies in Nigeria

This study aims to demonstrate how the Feminist Coalition (FemCo) employed digital media to promote feminist causes in Nigeria. Using the #EndSARS protest as a study, we show how Black women championed virtual feminism and Black feminist ideas, resulting in Black cyberfeminism. By translating and reflecting their physical reality into digital experiences, FemCo’s design of the #EndSARS logo raised awareness of intersectionality and demonstrated levels of ongoing struggle and empowerment. Through the use of hashtags on social media, both private and public instances of misogynist remarks were brought to light in response to the adoption of the logo and in opposition to FemCo’s points of view. Employing a qualitative descriptive method of data collection and analysis, we demonstrate how, in a time and space of gendered discourse and patriarchal culture, Black cyberfeminism has become more common in contemporary Nigeria and arrive at the conclusion that FemCo’s tremendous influence is rarely discussed in the current literature on the #EndSARS protest. We further argue that without the FemCo’s active participation and, more significantly, financial support, the #EndSARS protest would not have had much of an impact on a global scale. This is as a result of the thirteen founding members of the coalition’s diverse initiatives.

Organizational Commitment, Teachers' Empowerment, and Transformational Teaching of Public Elementary Schools in Laguna, Philippines

Teacher commitment is indeed an internal factor that motivates teachers to put more effort and energy into sustaining school involvement and to further improve and enhance their teaching strategies to attain their objectives. Thus, it is important to know the level of commitment, teachers' empowerment, and transformational teaching of teachers during this time of the pandemic. Transformational teaching entails developing dynamic interactions between teachers, students, and a body of shared knowledge. According to this viewpoint, teachers serve as intellectual coaches who construct student teams that work together with their teachers to master bodies of knowledge. These constructivist-based transformational teaching approaches help students develop new knowledge and actions. Teachers that employ constructivist theory as a theoretical framework assist students in becoming active participants in society and the global workplace. The sample of the study consisted of 551 teachers who responded on a representative of public elementary schools in Calamba, Cabuyao, Binan, and Sta. Rosa. Cluster sampling was used to collect the sample, and the city school districts served as the representative of the clusters. Ranking sampling was used to choose the participating schools and the teacher respondents. Each cluster was ranked based on population distribution and gender distribution to maintain an equal proportion of teachers' respondents across all participating schools in the four city school divisions. Teacher respondents were selected randomly to represent the sample of the study. The study mainly focuses on the level of organizational commitment, teachers’ empowerment to the level of transformational teaching. The findings showed that the components of organizational commitment and teachers' empowerment significantly foresee the relationship on transformational teaching of teachers in the four (4) City Schools Division in Laguna. As a result, when teachers demonstrate a high level of organizational commitment and teacher empowerment to the level of transformational teaching, it encourages teachers to stay committed to their field of work and expected to attain their objectives.

Empowerment in chronic disease management: a mixed study approach

Aim: To explore how empowerment in chronically-ill patients could contribute to their therapeutic regimen management style. To investigate relation between chronic illness impact, therapeutic regimen management style, and the chronic disease intrusiveness´s in a person's life. Methods: A survey of 271 patients with chronic conditions administered once time with three questionnaires. From this simple (271 patients with Chronic illness.) we did nine interviews with them. Results: Regarding the socio demographic variables, age and schooling level reached statistical significance concerning individual empowerment, formally guided, and abandoned scores of the therapeutic regimen management styles. Regarding the predictive model, four multivariable linear regression models were constructed with the overall empowerment level as a dependent variable. The theoretical explanation was identified: “Facilitating decision-making according to each mindset". Conclusion: This study confirms the association between individual empowerment, the therapeutic regimen management style and the interference of chronic disease.

Solidarity in Time of a Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Student Experiences of Power-Sharing and Collaboration During COVID-19

ABSTRACT Using an anti-oppressive lens, this Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program intentionally introduced power sharing between students and faculty during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study qualitatively examined the students’ response to this interpersonal intervention and found: (1) This experience helped all participants appreciate each person’s unique contribution, which was helpful in building their confidence in themselves and each other as developing social work professionals, (2) Students experienced a greater sense of closeness with all members of the group, and (3) Working together as equals helped students feel supported as they faced difficulties in their personal lives. Anti-oppressive pedagogical strategies focusing on the nature of the relationship may provide high levels of support and empowerment for students.

Pemanfaatan Komunikasi Inovasi Digital Pertanian Perkotaan di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

Communication of innovation in agriculture is a way for farmers not only to seek information about agriculture in an innovative way but also how to explore and share information with fellow farmers in an innovative way to increase their agricultural productivity. During the pandemic, due to restrictions on gatherings, counseling is carried out in an innovative way, namely digital. The purpose of this study was to determine the readiness of extension workers and supporting facilities for digital agriculture and extension, to determine the factors that influence the level of empowerment of farmers in the city of Bogor. This study uses quantitative research methods which are strengthened by qualitative data. The location of the research was determined deliberately in the city of Bogor, which has good urban agriculture. The results show that extension workers are ready to face digital counseling and the communication support facilities for digital innovation in the city of Bogor are good for digital counseling. the level of empowerment of farmers directly affects the productivity of farmers and indirectly positively influenced by; environmental support, farmer innovation activities, and individual characteristics of farmers.

Artificial Intelligence, Technological Innovation and the Upgrading of China’s Equipment Manufacturing Industry

This article identifies and screens out companies applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) through Enterprise Search, and measures the level of AI empowerment in the industry in terms of the number of companies applying AI as a proportion of the number of companies in the industry as a whole, and based on the panel data of China’s equipment manufacturing industry from 2001-2017, we empirically test the impact effect and mechanism of action of AI empowerment on the upgrading of the equipment manufacturing industry. The research results show that: AI empowerment has a significant positive impact on the upgrading of the equipment manufacturing industry, but there is industry heterogeneity, and AI empowerment has a greater positive impact effect on the upgrading of the high-end equipment manufacturing industry. Technological innovation plays a mediating role in the process of AI empowerment for the upgrading of equipment manufacturing.

Using the Women Empowerment in Livestock Index (WELI) to Examine Linkages between Women Smallholder Livestock Farmers' Empowerment and Access to Livestock Vaccines in Machakos County of Kenya: Insights and Critiques.

Livestock diseases are a major barrier to productivity for both male and female livestock keepers in Africa. In Kenya, two of the most devastating livestock diseases are Newcastle Disease (ND) in poultry and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats. Female livestock keepers tend to own more small ruminants (goats, sheep, etc.) and poultry and their livelihoods are adversely affected if their herds are not vaccinated against these diseases. Livestock farming has gender specific challenges and opportunities, with implications for the empowerment of women smallholder farmers, their household well-being, food security, and livelihoods. There is a need to estimate the level to which women benefit personally, socially, and economically from keeping livestock, yet there are very few studies that can measure if livestock production does in fact empower women smallholder livestock farmers. This study was done to examine linkages between women's empowerment and access and control over livestock products and vaccines. The Women Empowerment in Livestock Index (WELI) tool, which was customized to include questions on livestock vaccine access, was used to capture baseline data on empowerment scores for women in Machakos county, Kenya, prior to implementation of animal health and vaccine test models. In total, 400 participants were surveyed in two wards of Machakos County, Kola and Kalama, which were purposively selected. Women's empowerment was mapped to three domains (3DE): intrinsic agency (power within), instrumental agency (power to), and collective agency (power with) measured against adequacy in 13 indicators. Our results indicate that the household structure (female headed or dual headed household), age of respondents and number of members in a household influence the adequacy score. Work balance was the most significant negative contributor to women's disempowerment. Women contributed the most to livestock productive activities and attained adequacy in this area compared to men, directly impacting the WELI score. Women smallholder livestock farmers report low CCPP and ND vaccination rates, minimal knowledge on livestock diseases, a lack of access to cold chain storage and rarely visited veterinarians. The WELI score was 0.81 indicating a high level of empowerment for women in this community compared to men leading us to conclude that the overall WELI score was not an accurate indicator of women's empowerment in Machakos County. However, the decomposability of the index allows us to disaggregate the drivers of change and to examine how individual indicators contribute to disempowerment.

Female homicides, laws, and women's empowerment: An early warning of retaliation effect

This paper studies whether the toughening of the laws to regulate violence against women can adversely generate a retaliation effect that temporary increases female homicides. Using a panel of 2167 solved female homicides in Ecuador from 2010 to 2020, I first analyze the characteristics and trends of female gender-violence victims and I compare them with the evolution of other-violence victims. Second, I analyze the effects of a reform of the penal code introduced in 2014 that modified the consideration of gender violence and increased the penalty for femicides. I exploit the fact that women empowerment and the enforcement of the law was not homogeneous across municipalities to test whether these policies were associated with a backlash effect that temporarily increased female homicide rates. My analysis finds an increment in the gender-violence rates in municipalities that enforced the introduction of the new femicide penalty type, and in municipalities exhibiting an increased level of women empowerment. Specifically, I obtain that in municipalities that introduced the new femicide type and with an increased level of women empowerment, there was an increase of gender-violence rates of 1.49 points, relative to those that experienced gender-violence but not enforced the new femicide type. These results suggest evidence for an early formation of the retaliation effect hypothesis that consider that gender equality policies and legislation reforms to toughening the penalties for femicides can generate (at least temporarily) an increase of gender violence.

Household decision-making, women's empowerment, and increasing egg consumption in children under five in rural Burkina Faso: Observations from a cluster randomized controlled trial

Malnutrition is one of the most long-suffering problems facing women and children across the world—it is endemic to many low- and low-middle income countries and is a leading comorbidity in CU5 mortality. Malnutrition and food security are gendered issues; not only are boys and girls differently affected by these issues, but societal norms and differing roles of women and men are often drivers of these different outcomes. The United Nations seeks to address both malnutrition and gender inequality by reaching its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Researchers have shown that women's empowerment is inextricably linked to the nutritional outcomes of children. As one dimension of women's empowerment, intra-household decision-making is an important determinant of child health and nutrition outcomes, as it can determine how resources are allocated within the household. To better understand how gender inequalities within household decision-making may contribute to child nutrition, this study examines the association between household decision-making and the adoption of behavior change to increase chicken egg consumption among infants and young children in Burkina Faso, and explores the relationship(s) between the Un Oeuf project and women's empowerment. This study analyzes data collected during the Un Oeuf cRCT (July 2018–April 2019) and additional data that were collected in conjunction with the Un Oeuf endline household survey in April 2019. Significant relationships were found between women's household decision-making about eggs and child egg consumption at the end of the project. This was true for women who did not have decision-making power at baseline (p = 0.006, OR 3.822) as well as for women who indicted having had that power and sustaining it through endline (p = 0.013, OR 6.662). Results indicate that the Un Oeuf project significantly increased women's household decision-making (p > 0.005, OR 4.045). Finally, significant relationships were found between a woman's overall level of empowerment and household decision-making power surrounding (1) what is done with household eggs (p < 0.005, OR 2.87) and (2) how foods are portioned (p = 0.012, OR 6.712). These findings illustrate the importance and potential of women's decision-making as a point of entry to improving nutritional outcomes through changes in empowerment.

Teach Smarter, not Harder: A Call for Empowering EFL Teachers with Strategies to Activate Learner-Centeredness

Learner empowerment entails making them autonomous in both learning and living and this is also the fulcrum on which the post-pandemic educational paradigm rests. Teachers in the contemporary times are required to train their students on the strategies of lifelong learning and become self-learners. Therefore, this study aims to gauge the perceptions of 110 EFL teachers at Qassim University on their level of motivation and empowerment for their B.A students. The study also establishes correlation between motivation and student empowerment. A quantitative research design is applied here to achieve the goals of the study. A reliable and validated 20-close ended questionnaire items is administrated to the participants using Google Forms and precise data sought. The study results show that EFL teachers at Qassim University have a high positive perception in motivating their students to English learning with a total average of (M=4.11). Furthermore, the study also reported a high level of student empowerment with strategies of self-learning reaching (M=3.90, STD=.708). Finally, a strong and direct correlation was found between motivation and empowerment of Saudi EFL students, in which Pearson coefficient was computed at (.841) and the probability value (Sig.=.000). Accordingly, it is recommended that EFL teachers use active strategies which motive and empower their students to be centered in the learning process.

Employing the teaching games for understanding model to improve social responsibility in a Physical Education class with children who have special needs: A qualitative study approach

The purpose of the study was to explore whether children with special needs taking part in physical education (PE) could improve their levels of social responsibility using the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) model over a fourteen‐lesson period. The study used a qualitative semi-structured interviews approach in which the design consisted of an assessment after lesson 7 and then again after lesson 14. A TGfU dodgeball intervention was carried out during the study and the participants (n = 14) were in their second and third years of secondary education within a special needs school specifically established for children who have social, emotional, and mental health concerns (SEMH). According to the background and ability levels of the students the teacher- researcher decided to implement the full use of the original TGfU model using its features to act as a strategy for intervention. The teacher-researcher was an experienced teacher of PE who undertook a dual role throughout the study including assessing the data and undertaking the semi-structured interviews. Qualitatively, data was open and coded line‐by‐line and incident‐to‐incident, categorised into themes and then analysed further into sub‐ themes. The qualitative information supported that the pedagogical strategies within the original TGfU model could have a clear impact on the levels of democracy, empowerment and reflections of children with special educational needs. In conclusion, the TGfU model should be considered as an approach and positive intervention to improve the social responsibility levels of children with special needs.

ANALISIS DAMPAK KEBIJAKAN PERIODISASI KEPALA SEKOLAH

Purposes of the research are to reveal and to analyze clearly and carefully about: (1) internal and external factors of SWOT analysis of SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta that had led it to achieve ISO 9001-2000 certificate, (b) attempts that had been performed by SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta that made it to achieve ISO 9001-2000 certificate, (c) implementation of TQM values of SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta so that it had achieved ISO 9001-2000 certificate. 
 The research is a case study one. Object of the research is implementation of total quality management (TQM) in SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta. Qualitative method is used to analyze data obtained from observations, interview, and photograph documentation. Then, the data is analyzed qualitatively and descriptively. Based on the problem statements, results of the research, and discussion of the research, it can be concluded that SWOT analysis in SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta revealed: (1) Strengths that the vocational school has are its policy of School Based Management (MPMBS), it had ISO 9001-2000 certificate, its strategic location, its adequate education facilities and infrastructure, and its human resources that are potential enough. (2) Weaknesses that the vocational school has are its insufficient fund to meet all requirements, there are some teachers/employees who are difficult to accept changes toward improvements, and as partner of vocational schools, industrial/business world has inadequate participation in helping them to provide apprenticeship places and employments for students of vocational schools. (3) Opportunities that the vocational school has are: the increased demands of public, and there is a freedom for a vocational school to develop its own curriculum that suitable with needs of market. (4) Threats that the vocational school faces are development of science and technology especially there is a gap between needs of labor markets and existing learning systems of vocational schools, and limited job opportunities that suitable with existing vocational programs. 
 Attempts that had been performed by SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta in achieving ISO 9001-2000 certificate were in line with socialization and implementation of TQM values through several stages, namely, preparation stage, implementation stage and stage of achieving ISO 9001-2000 certificate and post-certification stage in which continuous system improvements should be performed. Generally, the TQM values can be implemented well in SMK Muhammadiyah 1 of Surakarta. Levels of obsession to quality and teamwork were in good criteria, whereas level of focus to customer, education and training, and level of involvement and empowerment of employees that can be implemented were in good criteria.