Abstract
Objective: Women’s empowerment is a vital component of societal progress and sustainable development, with far-reaching implications for gender equality and inclusive growth. Historically,
women have been confined to supporting roles in many African and Malawian societies, limiting their active contribution to societal development. In light of this, the study examines the role of
universities in fostering women’s socioeconomic empowerment.
Methods: The study employed a qualitative research methodology, utilizing face-to-face, indepth interviews. The study was undertaken at the University of Livingstonia, Ekwendeni Campus. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 participants, comprising university officials, faculty members, female students, and alumni. Thematic analysis was used for analyzing the data.
Results: The findings reveal that the University of Livingstonia significantly contributes to women’s socioeconomic empowerment by providing loans, education, and knowledge to the wider community. This facilitates community self-reliance through the establishment of businesses and the active participation of women in educational activities and community engagements.
Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of universities in fostering women’s socioeconomic empowerment. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies to overcome challenges and enhance the role of universities in promoting women’s empowerment
Keywords
Ekwendeni Malawi qualitative study socioeconomic empowerment universities women empowerment
References
- Al-Qahtani, A. M., Elgzar, W. T. I., Ibrahim, H. A., El-Houfy, A., & El Sayed, H. A. (2021). Women empowerment among academic and administrative staff in Saudi universities: A cross-sectional study. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 25(s1), 60–68.
- Bourdieu, P. (1985). The forms of capital. In J. G. Richardson (Ed.). Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241–258). Greenwood Publishing Group.
- Desai, S., Chen, F., Reddy, S., & McLaughlin, A. (2022). Measuring women’s empowerment in the global south. Annual Review of Sociology, 48(1), 507–527.
- Eissler, S., Heckert, J., Myers, E., Seymour, G., Sinharoy, S., & Yount, K. M. (2022). Measuring women’s empowerment: Gender and time-use agency in Benin, Malawi and Nigeria. Development and Change, 53(5), 1010–1034.
- Jayachandran, S. (2021). Social norms as a barrier to women’s employment in developing countries. IMF Economic Review, 69(3), 576–595.
- Jha, J., & Kelley, E. J. (2023). Returns to relationships: Social capital and household welfare in India. Social Sciences, 12(3), 184.
- Kabeer, N. (1999). Resources, agency, achievements: Reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment. Development and Change, 30(3), 435–464.
- Kopren, A., & Westlund, H. (2021). Bridging versus bonding social capital in entrepreneurs’ networks: The case of post-conflict western Balkans. Sustainability, 13(6), 3371.
- Mapuranga, B. (2016). The role of universities in economic development. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 7(6), 21-23.
- Panchani, M. (2017). Role of higher education in women empowerment. Journal of Philosophy of and the Social Science
- Portes, A. (1998). Social capital: Its origins and applications in modern sociology, Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 1-24.
- Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: the collapse and revival of American community. Choice Reviews Online, 38(04), 38-2454. Simon & Schuster.
- Rehman, H., Moazzam, A., & Ansari, N. (2015). Role of microfinance institutions in women empowerment: A case study of Akhuwat, Pakistan. South Asian Studies, 30(1), 107. Retrieved from http: //jou rnals .pu.edu.pk/journals/index .php/IJSAS /article/view/2987/1200
- Tabassum, M., Begum, N., Shohel Rana, M., Omar Faruk, M., & Mamun Miah, M. (2019). Factors influencing women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. Science, Technology and Public Policy, 3(1), 1.
- Ughetto, E., Rossi, M., Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. E. (2019). Female entrepreneurship in the digital era. Small Business Economics, 55(2), 305–312.
Abstract
Objective: Women’s empowerment is a vital component of societal progress and sustainable development, with far-reaching implications for gender equality and inclusive growth. Historically,
women have been confined to supporting roles in many African and Malawian societies, limiting their active contribution to societal development. In light of this, the study examines the role of
universities in fostering women’s socioeconomic empowerment.
Methods: The study employed a qualitative research methodology, utilizing face-to-face, indepth interviews. The study was undertaken at the University of Livingstonia, Ekwendeni Campus. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 participants, comprising university officials, faculty members, female students, and alumni. Thematic analysis was used for analyzing the data.
Results: The findings reveal that the University of Livingstonia significantly contributes to women’s socioeconomic empowerment by providing loans, education, and knowledge to the wider community. This facilitates community self-reliance through the establishment of businesses and the active participation of women in educational activities and community engagements.
Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of universities in fostering women’s socioeconomic empowerment. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies to overcome challenges and enhance the role of universities in promoting women’s empowerment
Keywords
Ekwendeni Malawi qualitative study socioeconomic empowerment universities women empowerment
References
- Al-Qahtani, A. M., Elgzar, W. T. I., Ibrahim, H. A., El-Houfy, A., & El Sayed, H. A. (2021). Women empowerment among academic and administrative staff in Saudi universities: A cross-sectional study. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 25(s1), 60–68.
- Bourdieu, P. (1985). The forms of capital. In J. G. Richardson (Ed.). Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241–258). Greenwood Publishing Group.
- Desai, S., Chen, F., Reddy, S., & McLaughlin, A. (2022). Measuring women’s empowerment in the global south. Annual Review of Sociology, 48(1), 507–527.
- Eissler, S., Heckert, J., Myers, E., Seymour, G., Sinharoy, S., & Yount, K. M. (2022). Measuring women’s empowerment: Gender and time-use agency in Benin, Malawi and Nigeria. Development and Change, 53(5), 1010–1034.
- Jayachandran, S. (2021). Social norms as a barrier to women’s employment in developing countries. IMF Economic Review, 69(3), 576–595.
- Jha, J., & Kelley, E. J. (2023). Returns to relationships: Social capital and household welfare in India. Social Sciences, 12(3), 184.
- Kabeer, N. (1999). Resources, agency, achievements: Reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment. Development and Change, 30(3), 435–464.
- Kopren, A., & Westlund, H. (2021). Bridging versus bonding social capital in entrepreneurs’ networks: The case of post-conflict western Balkans. Sustainability, 13(6), 3371.
- Mapuranga, B. (2016). The role of universities in economic development. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 7(6), 21-23.
- Panchani, M. (2017). Role of higher education in women empowerment. Journal of Philosophy of and the Social Science
- Portes, A. (1998). Social capital: Its origins and applications in modern sociology, Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 1-24.
- Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: the collapse and revival of American community. Choice Reviews Online, 38(04), 38-2454. Simon & Schuster.
- Rehman, H., Moazzam, A., & Ansari, N. (2015). Role of microfinance institutions in women empowerment: A case study of Akhuwat, Pakistan. South Asian Studies, 30(1), 107. Retrieved from http: //jou rnals .pu.edu.pk/journals/index .php/IJSAS /article/view/2987/1200
- Tabassum, M., Begum, N., Shohel Rana, M., Omar Faruk, M., & Mamun Miah, M. (2019). Factors influencing women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. Science, Technology and Public Policy, 3(1), 1.
- Ughetto, E., Rossi, M., Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. E. (2019). Female entrepreneurship in the digital era. Small Business Economics, 55(2), 305–312.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Women's Studies |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | December 31, 2023 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2023 Volume: 5 Issue: 2 |
Content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License