Educating Women: A Strategy towards Improving the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in Adekokwok Sub-county, Lira District.

Abstract

OKELLO PETERS OQWIR (2011-MO92-40009) Educating Women: A Strategy towards Improving the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in Adekokwok Sub-county, Lira District. The major focus of this study was to explore the role that education can play in the socio-economic empowerment of women. This involved a case study of women in Adekokwok sub-county in Lira district. The study focused on establishing the level of socio-economic empowerment of women in Adekokwok sub-county, their level of literacy and also explored other challenges to women‟s socio-economic empowerment in this area. The study employed across-sectional paradigm which involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods in the collection, analysis and presentation of data. The main tools of data collection involved the use of a questionnaire and an interview guide for conducting the face to face interviews. However, other secondary sources of documented information also formed a crucial part in building the theoretical framework and perspective of the study where related works of other scholars were extensively reviewed. The presentation and analysis of the study findings involved the use of tables, percentages and other descriptive modes. A summary of the major findings shows that the level of socio-economic empowerment among women in Adekokwok sub-county is still very low, the literacy levels among these women were also found to be very wanting. The study also found out that apart from illiteracy, there were also other challenges/factors constraining the socio-economic empowerment of women in this area. Because of the above findings, the study concluded that illiteracy, poverty, oppression by men, bad traditional practices and inadequate legal and policy protection among others were the major constraints to women‟s socio- economic empowerment. Therefore, because of the above finding and conclusions, the study recommended more enrolment of girls in schools through offering special incentives and also adult literacy programmes for women who missed formal education. It also recommended the formulation and execution of laws and policies which promote and protect women empowerment causes and above all the abolition of cultural practices that promote male superiority at the expense of women. Effort was also made to suggest some grey areas for future research in relation to the issue of women empowerment. Key Words: Educating Women, Socio-Economic Empowerment, Lira District.