Exploring Karkara Women’s and Adolescent Girls’ Perceptions Toward Leadership Positions as A Vector of Empowerment: A Case Study in The Sahel Niger
Open Access
- Author:
- Gbaguidi Adolphe, Halima Therese
- Graduate Program:
- Education, Development, and Community Engagement
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 24, 2022
- Committee Members:
- Nicole Webster, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Suzanna Windon, Major Field Member
Alidou D Ousseina, Special Member
Mark Brennan, Major Field Member
Maha Marouan, Outside Unit & Field Member - Keywords:
- Women
Adolescent girls
Empowerment
Autonomy
Leadership
Sahel
Niger
Tahoua
Tabalak
Birni N'Konni
Keita - Abstract:
- Women’s advancement and inclusion in society have been on the rise in many nations, but some countries still have not made significant improvements. The Niger Republic is one country in West Africa where gender inequality is still prevalent in contemporary times. Women and girls, particularly in the country’s Karkara communities, have faced decades of gender discrimination due to unequal access to critical social and natural resources, educational opportunities, and services. This inequality has prevented them from participating fully in society and the decision-making process, attaining leadership positions, and learning skills crucial to their well-being. As a result of these gender disparities, few women hold leadership positions in the male-dominated sectors of society. In the Republic of Niger, since independence in 1960 to the present day, much ink has been spilled about the issue of women's involvement in leadership positions/roles. Women are constantly absent, misrepresented, and often excluded across different societal spheres. A recent report from the United Nations Development Program ranked Niger 154 out of 162 countries in terms of the Gender Inequality Index (UNDP, 2020), highlighting the stark inequalities facing women. The government has made progress in enhancing women’s participation in many sectors, including the implementation in 2001 of the Quota Act (Alidou & Alidou, 2008). However, there is still persistent inequality in women’s positions. Yet, despite its critical importance, the Quota Law has barely been respected since its inception, and even less, it does not necessarily apply to women and young girls in rural areas who are non-literate or without higher education. This inequality has prevented them from participating fully in society, attaining leadership positions, and learning skills crucial to their well-being. As a result of these gender disparities, few women hold leadership positions in the male-dominated sectors of society. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by 193 countries across the globe (including Niger) in September 2015. These goals continue the work begun by the Millennium Development Goals, which were established in 2000 (United Nations, 2015). As part of the original Millennium Development Goals, women's empowerment and gender equality remained fundamental elements. A more sustainable world begins with gender equality as a fundamental human right. Gender equality also supports economic growth, peace, prosperity, and a stronger economy, hence the importance of this study. Currently, there is a dearth of published literature on rural women and girls in Niger, making it quite difficult to ascertain the nuanced situation of the inequalities faced by women and girls. Moreover, there is limited literature on leadership, especially regarding rural women and girls, which is critical to the conversations on advancing women in society. Therefore, this qualitative case study explores how rural women and girls view leadership within their community and how that can contribute to their empowerment. In other words, the study examines how Karkara women and adolescent girls perceive leadership as a vector of empowering them and future generations. The study focuses particularly on rural women and girls in three rural areas within the region of Tahoua in Niger. Findings show that leadership can be a vector to empowerment and that participants’ influence in leadership roles is exhibited in diverse ways, such as their involvement in women’s groups or associations, the community and within their household.