Formal education and the empowerment of women in leadership roles in rural homes: A case study of Kammengo Sub-County, 1980-2010

Abstract

The study focused on, “Formal Education and the Empowerment of Women in Leadership Roles in rural Homes” A case study of Kammengo sub-county, 1980-2010 The researcher chose this topic of study because; there have been little data and research done, particularly on the contribution of formal education to the leadership roles of a woman in a rural home. As a result the researcher wanted to investigate the role that formal education plays in enhancing the leadership role and position of a woman in a home since formal education is a key factor in influencing leadership. The study employed a case study design and used both qualitative and quantitative methods in collecting and analyzing data. With qualitative methods, the researcher obtained opinions from the respondents, read books with relevant information and other sources that could be used to describe the phenomena. For quantified data, the researcher administered 64 questionnaires, as the tools for data collection during the study. The study revealed that women play a significant role in supporting their families socially and economically. They initiate family meetings, educate children, provide of medical care, participate in decision making, and participate in income generating projects and offer guidance and counseling to the members in the home at large and other roles. There were also a number of socio-economic leadership challenges faced by married women in homes in rural areas including high levels of illiteracy, male domination, over dependence, little income base, lack of general social recognition, denial of ownership of property in the home and ignorance about women rights. The study also revealed that formal education plays a big role in the empowerment of socio-economic leadership roles of women in rural homes. The effects of formal education were significant and they included empowerment of women with resource mobilization skills, development of self esteem, making informed decision, good budgeting, effective management of home income and expenditure, monitoring skills, conducting and chairing family meetings among others. The study concludes that women play a significant role in supporting their families socially and economically but there are also a number of socio-economic leadership challenges faced by married women in homes in rural areas. More so, it was concluded that formal education positively affects leadership roles of women. The study recommends that the government and concerned other parties and authorities should initiate family and community leadership Forums & Social Networking to offer opportunities for Women to exchange experience and wisdom with other women in advanced leadership positions and address their concerns, encourage education for the women and girls, and offer economic support to the women to boost their financial status in order to be able to support their homes and families.