Readings for February 25, 2021
Reading Questions:
1. In addition to available ‘resources’, several frameworks of empowerment give a central role to ‘agency’. A book published by the World Bank (Voice and Agency) devotes the whole Chapter 1 to the concept of agency. In your experience, what are expressions of agency (e.g. freedom from violence, freedom of mobility, freedom to gain education, control over reproductive rights, control over housing and land, influence in society, access to paid work etc.) that are most important for improving gender equity and women’s empowerment, and which ones do you think are still the most constrained?
2. Many women experience multiple deprivations of agency at the same time. Can you think of examples of how deprivations can be related and possibly have compounding effects?
3. Back in the 1990s, Naila Kabeer’s work was foundational for defining and measuring women’s empowerment. In your view, why is the dimension of ‘achievement’ so important in addition to the provision of ‘resources’ and ‘agency’ to access them?
4. If you got to the optional reading (Chapter 5: Control over land and housing): Of all the described situations, laws, policies and challenges from around the globe, which was the most surprising to you, which was the most concerning, and which the most promising?
