Struggling for an equal society, experience of participation in women’s groups

Tina Kelly

Bachelor Thesis

School of Global Studies

Peace and Development Research

Global Development Studies

Göteborg University/ Gothenburg University

Supervisors: Edmé Dominguez and Åsa Stenman

SUMMARY

Despite the progress of the women’s movement in El Salvador, it is evident that immense obstacles remain in the struggle for women’s rights in the country. This study focus on the individual level in order to find out how the women experience their participation and which the mechanism are that make them participate. The main objective of this thesis is therefore to analyze how Salvadoran women engaged in women groups experience their participation. This has been investigated trough answering the following questions; why did the women join the group? How do the women experience their participation in the group? What has the participation implied for their everyday-life? Have their initial motivations for joining the group changed since they first got involved and in what way?

This thesis has a qualitative method consisting of eight semi-structured interviews with Salvadoran women engaged in women groups. To complement the material I have also used information provided from two observations of workshops and meetings organized by Instituto de Investigación, Capacitación y Desarrollo de La Mujer (IMU), a NGO in El Salvador. As most qualitative studies the aim of this thesis is not to generalize, but to provide information about the obstacles and opportunities with participation and the possibilities to change the patterns of the patriarchal society. In order to obtain a deeper understanding of this empirical information, the material has been analyzed with support from theories on women’s interests, empowerment and the Latin American context.

The main results of the thesis can be concluded in the following way; most of the women relate their participation as provoked by their own experiences which are often characterized by violence and poverty. It is evident that the cultural constraints of the patriarchal society have constituted a hinder for their participation. The initial motivation for participating in the groups is not necessarily the same as the current motivation, which has been analyzed with support from the theory on women’s interests. An important result is also that it is important to see to the individual in every case. Most of the women give very positive accounts of their participation experiences, such as increased self-esteem and the ability to defend themselves. This can be seen as examples of empowerment and moreover confirms that defining empowerment is a complex issue.