Extent Of Empowerment Research Articles

Study on extent of empowerment among farm women marketer’s in Telangana state

Study on extent of empowerment among farm women marketer’s in Telangana state

Does Empowering Women Influence Maternal Healthcare Service Utilization?: Evidence from National Family Health Survey-5, India.

Maternal healthcare service utilization is a pivotal indicator of a nation's progress in safeguarding the health and well-being of its women and children. In this context, women's empowerment emerges as a critical determinant influencing the utilization of maternal healthcare services. The study aims to assess the relationship between women's level of empowerment and utilization of maternal healthcare services among currently married women in India. DATA ANDMETHODS: The study uses data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-2021 and analyzed 26,552 (15-49 aged)currently married women who had a live birth in the last 5years preceding the survey. Additionally, univariate and bivariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression, and the SWPER index were used for the analysis. Over the years, utilization of antenatal care, skilled birth attainment, and postnatal care has increased extensively in India. However, the study found that utilization of services was higher among empowered women, and it varies across the state with the extent of empowerment. State-level analysis shows that the extent of women empowerment was higher in Goa, followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and lower in Jharkhand, followed by Tripura, so as the utilization of maternal and health care services. The extent of empowerment and utilization of services also varies by level of educational attainment, employment, and socio-economic status. There is a need for comprehensive strategies to enhance women's empowerment through education, employment, political participation, self-awareness, and reduction in gender-based violence and child marriages, which may improve awareness demand for better public health structure, and may ensure higher utilization of maternal healthcare services. Ultimately, these strategies may converse the higher maternal death and child mortality.

Women’s Empowerment through Skill Education and Entrepreneurship Development in the Handloom Sector in Mizoram

Handlooms not only represent the rich cultural heritage of India but are also important from the point of view of their size and employment potential. It is the second-largest provider of employment in India after agriculture. The handloom workforce in India is largely outside the realms of formal education in India, impeding their empowerment. This article probes into the extent of empowerment among students of the Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc) (Handloom Weaver) and the impact of this unique course conducted at Mizoram University on women’s empowerment. Drawing on Naila Kabeer’s concept, the article examines women’s empowerment among students as an impact of the B.Voc course at Mizoram University. The B.Voc course provides skill-based education as well as prospects of employment through entrepreneurship with the promotion of the ‘Hnatlang Handloom Producer Company Ltd’ by the students. The study revealed that the B.Voc Handloom course provided valuable education and knowledge on hands-on handloom skills, entrepreneurship and leadership experience, exposure to marketing and networking, and fund management. However, students continue to subscribe to some of the stereotypical mindset. There is a need for sensitisation sessions on ‘Women’s Empowerment and Gender Studies’ to enable them to reconstruct structural inequalities and patriarchy.

English

A study was conducted on the impact of Covid 19 pandemic among selected microenterprises of women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) in marine fisheries sector in Kerala State. Their level of performance and extent of empowerment were assessed through appropriate indices of measurement based on the data from SHGs of 16 different conspicuous fishery based micro enterprises in Kerala state. The gender analysis and economic feasibility analysis based on personal interview and focus group interaction meetings with members of SHGs were undertaken. The male and female counterparts of the families of respondents were separately interviewed to assess the gender mainstreaming impact in terms of equity and equality to access and control over the resources, participation profile, decision making, gender need analysis etc.

English

A pragmatic examination on the impact of women SHGs in gender mainstreaming was embarked on the 10 seaweed farming SHG units operating at Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu state. An explorative assessment on extent of empowerment, performance level, gender characteristics and economic feasibility analysis was carried out based on socio-economic surveys and personal interviews using pre-tested and structured data gathering protocols with standardized scales and indices. Empowerment Index was quantified based on 8 relevant dimensions constituting it. The male and female counterparts of the families were separately interviewed to evaluate the gender mainstreaming aspects in terms of equity and equality to access to resources, participation profile, decision making aspects, gender need analysis etc. Though majority of activities are male dominated, the female counterparts of the households also have committed role in site selection, seeding, drying, packing etc. The Scales of ‘Performance Assessment’ and ‘Empowerment Index’ developed for this study have upright prospective for future use in other key areas on a sustainable basis. Voids identified in Empowerment Index computation give adequate feedback to authorities to proceed in the accurate direction and to follow apposite changes in strategies of the microenterprise. The gender dimension analysis on mainstreaming aspect gives sensitization on crucial issues like women fisherfolk’s rights and marketing channels for policies and other interventions on gender. The identified interrelationships between the variables an act as catalytic points for group action and empowerment on a maintainable basis. The indicative economics worked out for the economic feasibility analysis of the SHGs advocates that, the unit takes just one year to break even which shows the cost-effectiveness of the seaweed farming enterprise.

Impact of oil palm-related activities on women’s empowerment in Ghana

The public debate over the effect of industrial crop production activities on women’s empowerment remains inconclusive. There are concerns that engagement in industrial crop (oil palm) related activities adversely affects females’ time allocation culminating in disempowerment. However, there is counter-argument that the improved income associated with women’s involvement in industrial crop production activities eventually increases their capacity to significantly contribute to household spending, decision making, and empowerment. Using a rich dataset from 416 farm households from Ashanti and Central regions of Ghana, we empirically quantify the effect of engagement in oil palm production activities on women’s empowerment. The extent of women’s empowerment is quantified using the scores in the five domains of empowerment (i.e. 5DE). The Propensity Score Matching technique is then employed to determine the impact of women’s involvement in the oil palm-related activities on their extent of empowerment. In this paper, we further identify and examine other potential determinants of women’s adequacy in the various indicators of empowerment as well as the overall extent of empowerment. While the study could not establish any significant impact of engagement in oil palm-related activities on women’s empowerment, the results clearly show that these activities contribute positively to empowerment. Also, we find that women with formal education, access to credit, formal training in agriculture or farming, and those engaged in off-farm income-generating activities tend to be more empowered irrespective of the community in which they find themselves. The paper offers suggestions on how women’s empowerment in rural or oil palm producing communities in Ghana could be enhanced.

The Attenuation of Female Empowerment among Three Pentecostal-Charismatic Chinese Churches in Malaysia and Singapore

Abstract Among all branches of Christianity, female empowerment has been valorized in Pentecostalism. However, questions remain regarding the extent of empowerment in its egalitarian ethos. This article examines some historical and sociological aspects of pentecostal-charismatic female power and leadership among three Chinese majority churches in Malaysia and Singapore. It does so by a participant-observation methodology of these churches and in-depth interviews of church and lay leaders to enquire into the degree in which women are (dis)empowered for ministry. It concludes that specific practices and traits of Pentecostalism such as the charismata, prayer and worship, and church female leadership are configured in response to contextual sociocultural influences to produce a Christian/pentecostal woman that is both modern yet distinctly Chinese but attenuated within a Confucian family logic.

Inclinations of Members of the Teaching Staff Towards Factors Leading to Job Satisfaction—A Comparative Study between Public and Private Universities

The study aimed at identifying job satisfaction and inclinations towards factors, such as salary, feeling of job security, extent of empowerment, nature of work relations among different parties and social status the instructor feels, all of which lead to job satisfaction among members of teaching staff in both public and private universities in Lebanon. Furthermore, the study aimed at prioritizing these factors as related to instructors at the Lebanese University and those at private universities. The study also tried to find whether instructors preferred teaching at public or private universities as related to the country from which they obtained their Ph. D’s. To achieve this goal, a five-point Likert-style questionnaire was constructed and distributed to 100 instructors in the public university (Lebanese University) and to another 100 instructors in various private universities. Thus, the society of the study comprises instructors in both public and private universities. Of these questionnaires, the researchers retrieved 184 which were valid for analysis. The study yielded some important findings, mainly that there is a significant difference between instructors in public and private universities regarding some factors leading to job satisfaction (salary, feeling of job security, work relations among colleagues and students, and social status that the instructor feels) in Lebanon. The study also showed a difference in prioritizing factors which lead to job satisfaction relative to workplace (public or private university) in Lebanon. Moreover, the study concluded that instructors at universities have different preferences to work at the Lebanese University (public) relative to the country from which they obtained their Ph. D’s.

Women Empowerment: Constitutional Provision

“Empowering women is a prerequisite for creating a good nation, when women are empowered, society with stability is assured. Empowerment of women is essential as their thoughts and their value systems lead to the development of a good family, good society and ultimately a good nation.” –A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Formal-President Govt. of India. Women are main founder of the world as well as men. So that in India women are called “Ardhangini‟ and in western countries she is called „Better women in society. Empowerment of women is very essential for the development of society because women play an import key role in all the fields of development. Women contribute directly or indirectly for the economic development. Women play a strategic role in the developmentof society in particular and development economy in general. Although from last two centuries, in India, the position of women is so hazardous that year 2001 is announced as the year of “EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, 2001.” Empowerment of women involves many things-economic opportunity, property rights, political representation, social equality, personal rights and so on. The process of empowerment is taking place at so many levels that it is quite difficult to gauge the actual nature and extent of empowerment in improving status of women.

The Underdeveloped Transformative Potential of Human Rights Education: English Primary Education as a Case Study

In order for learners to become empowered human rights activists, they must be equipped with relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes. Learner empowerment therefore forms a central element of international Human Rights Education provisions. This article draws upon empirical research to gauge the nature and extent of empowerment in English primary schools, and seeks to better understand the reasons for any deficiencies in its practice. It argues that whilst empowerment-related concepts may be encouraged to a certain extent, learners are unlikely to be emerging from formal schooling with the means to contribute significantly to transformation of the broader human rights culture. Two important barriers are identified: (i) teacher attitudes towards empowerment; and (ii) current government curriculum policy. The article argues on the first of these points that teachers are only likely to become comfortable and confident about such teaching if they are equipped with human rights knowledge, skills and experience in their own training. And on the second, that there needs to be a shift in government policy towards greater learner engagement with empowerment-related skills and relevant community engagement if the current trend towards didactic rote learning is to be reversed.

Teacher Empowerment: A Focused Ethnographic Study in Brunei Darussalam

Teacher empowerment, as a process that enables teachers’ intrinsic motivation and brings out their innate potential, is of critical importance in modern times. However, the teacher empowerment construct in existing education literature originated in the west, and its dimensions are aligned to the western cultural scenario. The purpose of this study was to understand the behaviours of school leaders, teacher colleagues, students as well as their parents, and themselves, that teachers perceived as empowerment-facilitating and/or empowerment impeding. This study took place in a secondary school in Brunei Darussalam, a private secondary school. This study was designed as a ‘focused ethnography’, a methodological adaptation of the conventional anthropological ethnography. Fieldwork took place over a span of six months. The study concluded that teacher empowerment is relevant to non-western contexts, only if it is adapted to the contextual cultures. Finally, this study asserted that teacher empowerment is a self-driven phenomenon, and that the contextual culture decided the nature and extent of empowerment that can possibly take place in a particular setting.

The struggle to empower trade union members: insights from Zambia

ABSTRACTEmpowerment is under-researched in labour and trade unions, not least in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on workplace observations and interviews with union members and staff in agriculture, commerce, and industry, this article shares insights from two trade unions in Zambia. Findings show that the extent of empowerment differs between members and that empowerment is constrained by employer influence, privatisation, lack of government labour law enforcement, and union resources. Using an integrated approach, the article discusses differences in perceptions of empowerment, how external intentions clash with local structures, and offers suggestions which may help to improve union empowerment methods and programmes.

Public Agricultural Extension System Support for the Natural Farming: A Case of Convergence Effort under ATMA, India

Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of India is a huge public extension system, it usually converge different extension service providing agencies, research organizations, NGOs, and other such agencies at district level with the farming communities (FIGs). Recognizing the importance of group led extension approach; ATMA has developed and/or strengthens several common interest groups (FIGs). One of the active performing groups was studied about its dynamics and empowerment brought forth by ATMA is presented in this paper. The reason behind in selection of this particular farmers’ interest group (FIG) is it’s unique practice of paddy cultivation rather to use synthetic chemicals. ATMA has strengthened this group with its convergence activity in collaboration with department of animal husbandry and NGO at their locality. ATMA is acting upon this group since eleven years to empower the farmers through group led extension. To measure the impact of ATMA in empowering the group, present study was conducted with the following objective: To measure the group dynamics of FIG - Natural farming and to identify the extent of empowerment as perceived by the respondents. To measure the group dynamics of this FIG, group dynamics index (GDI) was developed for this study. This FIG natural farming scored 0.63 out of 1 on GDI. According to the members of FIG natural farming, most of the empowerment (25.71%) fell out in economic security dimension.

Do home-based micro-entrepreneurial earnings empower rural women? Evidence from the handloom sector in Assam

Access to income through home-based activities is important for empowering disadvantaged groups of society, especially women. The present paper seeks to analyze the extent of empowerment of women engaged in the handloom sector in Assam in North Eastern India. Our study refines five empowerment indicators of economic, social, and cultural relevance, such as decision-making ability, freedom of movement, ownership of assets and income, male preference, and domestic violence. This is based on primary survey data collected from 328 married women from six districts of Assam to examine how engagement in handloom activities empowers them. Results indicate the existence of spatial variations as well as gaps in women’s empowerment. The parsimonious regression results show that age, educational attainment, income from handloom activities, and government support have had positive influences. Engagement in the handloom activities improves intra-household power relations significantly in favor of women and thereby reduces preference for males and domestic violence. The study urges that there should be better policies to facilitate women in accessing productive resources, especially financial ones. Micro-finance institutions can be encouraged to promote women’s active participation in home-based activities, which in turn should improve the overall empowerment of women.

Healthy Communities Initiative: a preliminary assessment of the University of Missouri-Sedalia health promotion partnership

The persistence and growth of health disparities among different population groups have heightened interest in understanding the unique role University–community partnerships can play in promoting health and well-being. Through a qualitative approach, this study used in-depth interviews to understand the conditions and factors that determine the effectiveness of collaborative University–community partnerships, and how collective action can impact members and their communities. Findings show that the success of a partnership stems from the community’s social protective factors such as community capacity to participate in collaborative projects, sense of community, community participation, and community extent of empowerment fostered by the collective process. The study concludes with a call for committed collaboration between partnership members and among community coalitions.

The Impact of Empowerment on Employees Performance in Standards Office of Tehran

This study aimed to investigate the impact of empowerment on employees’ performance in Standards Office of Tehran. However, the dimensions of empowerment was investigated from psychological perspective and their impact on employees’ performance were analyzed. The main objective of this study was the analysis of empowerment impact on employees’ performance. The sub-objectives of study were the investigation of psychological aspects of empowerment including self-efficacy sense, the sense of having choice right, effective being sense, sense of meaningfulness of work, and sense of trust in others. Also, this study offered strategies to improve employees’ performance by using the empowerment components. Dara were collected by using library and questionnaire and were analyzed by descriptive-survey method. The results indicated that the employees in Standards Office of Tehran were ready to implement the empowerment process and the extent of empowerment’s psychological components were high between them. Therefore, it was suggested that senior managers in Standard Office of Tehran may increase the performance of employees by implementing the process of empowerment. Creating mentally healthy and safe environment, they may also increase the effect of empowerment in employees and develop empowerment.

Researching ‘with’, not ‘on’: engaging marginalised learners in the research process

This paper discusses practical and methodological issues arising from a case study exploring the hopes, aspirations and learning identities of three groups of students undertaking low-level broad vocational programmes in two English general further education colleges. Working within a social justice theoretical framework the paper outlines the participative approach which was adopted as part of the research process from the initial development of interview questions to the early data analysis. It explores the advantages and limitations of the approach in the context of the broader methodology and the social justice theoretical framework arguing that, despite the intention to collaborate with the participants, the ultimate control over the study was vested in the researcher, raising questions around the nature and extent of empowerment through the medium of research. The paper draws two key conclusions. In social justice terms, the young people’s contribution was limited by their lack of previous experience of any type of research and, to some extent, by difficulty with the written word. Despite this, the participative approach was effective in demonstrating value and respect for the young participants and provided an opportunity for them to make their voices heard from beyond the model of disadvantage and disengagement in which government policy seeks to confine them. Further, in purely methodological terms, the approach provided insights which could not have been obtained by ‘researching on’, suggesting that it provides a useful means of exploring the lives and identities of marginalised youth.

Integrated manufacturing, empowerment, and company performance

AbstractThere is controversy over whether integrated manufacturing (IM), comprising advanced manufacturing technology, just‐in‐time inventory control and total quality management, empowers or deskills shop floor work. Moreover, both IM and empowerment are promoted on the assumption that they enhance competitiveness. We examine these issues in a study of 80 manufacturing companies. The extent of use of IM was positively associated with empowerment (i.e., job enrichment and employee skill enhancement), but, with the minor exception of AMT, bore little relationship with subsequent company performance. In contrast, the extent of empowerment within companies predicted the subsequent level of company performance controlling for prior performance, with the effect on productivity mediating that on profit. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The empowerment audit ‐ measured improvement

Examines the development of the “empowerment audit” (EA) as a quantitative tool to measure the degree to which employees within an organisation are empowered. Analyses how what is, in effect, a two‐year survey of 100‐plus sites of large and medium‐sized manufacturers shows a correlation between the extent of empowerment within companies and the improvement in business performance over time. Looks at the development of the audit from simple “climate test” questionnaires to a full matrix framework, profiling existing and desired levels of organisational empowerment. Describes how results may be benchmarked against sector and industry averages across the EA database. Places the role of training in the context of post‐EA development programmes. Highlights that managers do not judge full empowerment always to be the ideal and that there is no prescribed “right place to be” on the empowerment scale. Rather, the EA’s purpose is to determine the scope for change, the readiness of an organisation to undertake it and to act as a means of monitoring progress.

A national survey of "consumer empowerment" at the state level.

A national survey was conducted to determine the extent of consumer empowerment in the public mental health system. A questionnaire was sent to mental health authorities in all U.S. states and territories asking whether consumer empowerment or responsibility was defined in statutes, regulations, or policies and whether consumers or family members were employed in central or field offices of the authority. A rating scale measured the extent of consumer empowerment, and correlations were examined between this rating and other variables. The survey achieved a 100 percent response rate. Twenty-two states (39 percent) addressed consumer empowerment and 16 (28 percent) consumer responsibility in a statute, regulation, or policy. Twenty-seven states (48 percent) had paid positions for consumers in central offices, and three (5 percent) had such positions for family members. Half the states had paid positions for consumers in field offices, and 12 states (24 percent) had such positions for family members. The extent of a state's consumer empowerment had no relationship to region of the country or the state's mental health budget. A significant positive relationship was found between extent of empowerment and the size of the state's population and the quality of its mental health services. State mental health authorities vary widely in their direct involvement with consumer empowerment. Results indicate that mental health authorities need to make a greater commitment to the achievement of such empowerment if it is to become a meaningful part of government involvement with mental health services.