Does schooling and work empower women in Fiji? Or have gender inequalities persisted and why?

Abstract

The paper explores the limitations of the theoretical presumptions underlying the relationship between empowerment, education and employment that have been emphasized in both the existing literature and the current rhetoric to 'empower' women in developing countries. The research uses findings from in-depth interviews and focused group discussion data to empirically examine the relationship between schooling, paid work and empowerment of women in Fiji. The paper argues that the relationship between education, work and empowerment is conditioned by gender norms surrounding women's and men's choices on key economic decisions. The findings demonstrate that cultural norms about gender roles are considered to persist, generating gender inequality despite women's and girl's education and employment. Empirical evidence makes a strong case for the need to move away from broad-based conceptualizations of women's empowerment to an analysis of the social construction of gender as both a conceptual and an empirical category of inquiry.

Is improvement in indicators of women’s empowerment associated with uptake of WHO recommended IPTp-SP levels in sub-Saharan Africa? A multilevel approach

“…Malhotra et al 23 refer to it as women’s ability to make decisions and affect consequences of significance to their families and themselves. However, a plethora of evidence supports that critical measures of women’s empowerment include education/knowledge, 24 25 contribution to household decision-making, 20 26–28 labour force participation 29 and disposition towards violence. 30 31 …”

Women in the House (of Parliament) in Fiji: What’s Gender Got to Do with It?

“…As Leckie (2000) notes, the public sector continues to attract many well-educated women, mostly in nursing, teaching and clerical jobs. Increasing numbers of women are now able to transgress and negotiate traditional gender roles, with achievements in education and employment (Chattier, 2013). However, the post-coup period saw more iTaukei women moving up the civil service ladder when race and the protection of indigenous paramountcy were predominant themes.…”

“…This is part of women's fundamental right to participate in political life, and at the core of gender equality and women's empowerment. However, the premise of gender equality assumes women to be a common group participating in the public sphere-economically, politically and culturally-and on an equal footing with men (Chattier, 2013).…”

“…Gendered social norms often reinforce the notion that men are better leaders than women, and this limits women's political aspirations. In this paper, a feminist interpretive approach is used to understand the social construct of gender as a conceptual and empirical category of enquiry (Chattier, 2013). There is much theoretical and practical inconclusiveness as to exactly what constitutes women's empowerment, but plans of action such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Beijing Platform for Action (BPA), the Pacific Platform for Action and Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development universally stress the need for women's equal participation with men in power and decision-making.…”

Women Farmer Participation and Its Determinants in Agricultural Training Programmes, for Central Division Fiji

“…As for education, illiteracy hinders women's liberty to opt for numerous choices to assert greater mobility in social interactions resulting into circumstances where women's involvement in agriculture and other sectors in the economy remain obscured and unaccounted (Prakash, 2003). "In fact, women's education is seen as one of the most effective channels for reducing inequalities between men and women that ensures maximum participation of women in the development process" (Chattier 2013).…”