Women’s participation in community development in rural Ghana: The effects of colonialism, neoliberalism, and patriarchy

Gyan, Charles; Mfoafo-M’Carthy, Magnus

doi:10.1080/15575330.2021.1959362

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…We have revealed both the cultural and structural barriers to girls and women participating in sports. Unlike the earlier studies from Ghana (Adam, 2014;Gyan and Mfoafo-M'Carthy, 2022;Sarpong et al, 2022) that primarily addressed the personal or cultural level, we have observed that cultural factors also influence or interact with organisational practices or policy implementation, resulting in gendered practices and fewer women in leadership positions at DSUs and regional sport offices. The female RSDs recounted the obstacles they faced in obtaining their positions in a sector dominated by men and operating in a patriarchal society.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 98%

Participation of girls and women in community sport in Ghana: Cultural and structural barriers

Charway,

Strandbu

2023

International Review for the Sociology of Sport

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Despite numerous international and national policy documents promoting girls’ and women's empowerment and participation in community sports, the actual access to sport for women and girls is still restricted in several countries. This paper explores the situation in Ghana. Through the analytical lens of Cooky and Messner’s theory of ‘the unevenness of social change’, we analyse the cultural and structural barriers that prevent girls and women from participating in sport in Ghanaian communities. The data material is document analysis, focus groups and semi-structured interviews with male and female officials representing state-funded regional and district sports organisations as well as non-state sports organisations in Ghana. The findings reveal that cultural barriers, rooted in deep-seated cultural norms and structural hindrances that undermine gender-inclusive policies, contribute to the limited participation of girls and women in community sport. Furthermore, the interplay between these cultural and structural factors leads to gender-specific practices and fewer women in leadership positions. Based on our analyses, we suggest that structural changes (enforcing and implementing gender policies) can result in cultural changes (positive gender equality outcomes) over time.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 98%

Participation of girls and women in community sport in Ghana: Cultural and structural barriers

Charway,

Strandbu

2023

International Review for the Sociology of Sport

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“…Secondly, demography and socioeconomic factors should be factored into the application of the RWF, as these factors have been predicted to influence sustainable development initiatives. In the context of developing countries, such as Ghana, for example, the participation of rural stakeholders in the development and transformation of territories has been influenced by several factors, including politics, power dominance, education, technology, and migration [63,64]. These factors need to be analysed within the RWF to understand how they affect sustainable development.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of the Rural Web Framework within the Context of Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review

et al. 2023

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In recent years, sustainability concerns have gained increasing attention among countries and stakeholders worldwide. Towards the transition to sustainable rural development, the rural web framework (RWF) has become a consistent tool. Indicators from the RWF have been used to explore sustainable rural development for decision-making tasks, which improves the social, economic, and environmental performance of rural regions. However, the application of the RWF in studies is on the decline. Furthermore, there is a lack of literature reviews on the importance of the RWF and its relationship with different facets of sustainable development. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) (a) to explore how studies have used the RWF in the context of sustainable development and (b) to identify areas for further research. This study found that the RWF has mostly been used in developed countries, with fewer applications in developing countries. We suggest that there should be increased application of the RWF, particularly in developing countries, to broaden the rural web–sustainable development discourse and its relevance. This paper presents several areas where the indicators of the RWF can be applied to illustrate their relevance for policy decisions towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

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“…To assume this role gracefully, men are first convinced into seeing themselves as the most powerful in society, and as superior to women and for that matter, the need to protect their subordinates. To the Akan, men are assumed to be stronger, more intelligent and possess leadership traits and the competence to provide security, sustenance and livelihood for themselves and women (Gyan, 2018). Due to this assumption, the socialization of men is consciously structured to help them adopt all these qualities, even if their physical and emotional capabilities do not allow them.…”

Section: Men As Protectorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That is, men have a dominant social status in most social spheres, and women are required to accede to men (Adinkrah, 2012). In traditional Ghanaian societies, men are often seen as stronger, more intelligent and possessing leadership qualities as well as the ability to provide stability, sustenance and livelihood (Adinkrah, 2012; Diabah and Amfo, 2015, 2018; Gyan, 2018). As a result, several Akan proverbs depict men as courageous and capable of coping with tough circumstances, and are even expected to die in such stance in order to prove their masculinity (Adinkrah, 2012; Asimeng-Boahene, 2013; Diabah and Amfo, 2015, 2018).…”

Section: Men As Resilient/brave/strongmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender (In)Equality in Ghana: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Akan Proverbs on Masculinity

Mariwah

Ofori

Adjakloe

et al. 2022

Journal of Asian and African Studies

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Gender differences have been recognized in most cultures, but the challenge arises when such differences are misinterpreted as gender inequality, especially to the gross disadvantage of women. One dimension of culture where gender inequality is generally manifested is through language and more specifically the use of proverbs, which are generally believed to host the wisdom of societies. Among some societies, people’s actions or inactions are often reflected in the meanings and interpretations of proverbs. This paper examines how proverbs may perpetuate gender inequality and potentially lead males to pronounced risks among the Akan in Ghana. Using a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study revealed that while some proverbs portray masculine superiority, such construction of masculinity, ironically, tends to subject males to pronounced risks in trying to live up to the expectations of society. Implicitly, these proverbs restrict the socio-cultural space for men to express their socially constructed ordeals. We conclude that the traditional representation of men in proverbs needs to be critically re-examined to holistically deal with gender inequality in Ghana.

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Women’s participation in community development in rural Ghana: The effects of colonialism, neoliberalism, and patriarchy

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Participation of girls and women in community sport in Ghana: Cultural and structural barriers

Participation of girls and women in community sport in Ghana: Cultural and structural barriers

Application of the Rural Web Framework within the Context of Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review

Gender (In)Equality in Ghana: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Akan Proverbs on Masculinity

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