Education and Women’s Participation in Community-based Organizations: An Ethnographic Inquiry

Abstract

Women’s participation is considered one of the influential aspects of women’s dignity and rights for women's empowerment as an important dimension of good governance through community - based organizations. It is also one of the important efforts to make development sustainable. Women have an important role in handling their families and community. The study aims to explore the practice of women's participation in the role of education to uplift community-based organizations. In this process, I consolidated the problem statement based on the literature review and my experience participating in community-based organizations. I used ethnographic inquiry to explore the women's experiences, stories and narratives of their experience on women's participation in community-based organizations. The study found that women participate in community-based organizations in various ways and forms. Women are engaged to provide caring, sharing and inspiring to women in their community - based organizations. Women have various learning and sharing opportunities in their women community-based organizations; however, the notion of learning is influenced by the values of education driven by the expectation of upward social mobility. Women are struggling for respect, equality and dignity. Further hurdles for the women were created by patriarchy, stigmatization of their identity and discriminating attitudes. Despite these hurdles, women who have actively participated in community-based organizations learnt and motivated other women to involve in it by overcoming the multiple obstacles they faced. The research concludes that the participation of more women in community based organizations could benefit the local area; challenges, including poor participation, transparency and accountability, are likely to be reduced through meaningful representation. The meaningful participation brought positive changes and has improved their life, making them happier and self- dependent. Women develop their interpersonal skills, taking leadership, making decisions, and have self confidence through community-based organizations. The conflict could be observed between active women and neutral women regarding the support required for the learning of the children, so the understanding seems to be redefined. ………………….