Paper short abstract:

This presentation demonstrates how perceptions of empowerment, mediation styles and power dynamics among actors within craft-based WEE programmes in Egypt, affect women's agency or 'kayan'.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation is based on ongoing research being conducted as part of the author’s PhD studies at IDS. The research seeks to explore the varying perceptions of empowerment among three participant groups involved in one NGO’s handicraft-based Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) programme (the women beneficiaries of the programme; the supervisors that mediate this programme; and the NGO that implements it) being implemented across three workshop locations and the mechanisms through which these programmes are delivered that have acted as either an aid or hindrance to women's agency or 'kayan'. The research took place in 2022 across three of the poorest neighbourhoods in Cairo. A multi-qualitative methods approach was used through Focus Group Discussions, interviews and ethnographic observations. The presentation draws on the preliminary findings of this research, which show how three specific factors permeate, influence, shape and complicate the formal project mechanisms employed in craft-based WEE programmes in Egypt. They are: 1) the participants embodiment of a decolonial and different notion of empowerment as compared to what is said in the literature; 2) the supervisors style of mediation within their respective workshops; and 3) the existing power dynamics (critically analysed from a feminist perspective) between the participants. It is such discrepancies in the understandings of women’s empowerment, mediation style and power imbalances that underscore the importance of NGOs to adopt and prioritise the lived experiences and perceptions of the beneficiaries as well as the technical expertise and mediation style of supervisors in craft-based WEE programmes.

Paper short abstract:

This paper charts experiences in co-building a ‘gender and development’ module with a diversity of students in a UK University, which elicited clear calls to prioritise spaces for radical, cutting-edge, and intersectional frames and actions if transformation and equity is what we truly seek.

Paper long abstract:

In mainstream development, gender equality and women’s empowerment are positioned as economic tools. Some concessions exist for rights-based aims, if rarely intersectional or social justice priorities. Regardless, our industries still cater to reductive dominant visions, including Northern universities which facilitate students’ desired careers in development organisations. This involves many students from the Global South and diaspora groups, partly as ‘Western’ degrees are valued for social mobility in Southern societies. However, pursuing radical aims for emancipatory gender equality from within Northern settings prompts reflection: as lecturers, we inescapably populate colonised spaces and can limit decolonisation to a metaphorical realm, bearing complicities with inequalities and imbalances that shape ‘who’ enters our classrooms and ‘what’ we are expected to teach in them.

Grappling with related themes, this paper charts an experience of co-producing (with students) and delivering a ‘gender and development’ module in a UK University. Examining weaknesses, silences, and exclusions arising from how gender can be deployed in development practice, it prompted student hopes on what it may still offer. Yet, it also elicited clear calls to prioritise spaces for radical, cutting-edge, and intersectional frames and actions if transformation and equity is what we truly seek. As such, sharing classroom-based reflections, this paper discusses experiences of working with a diverse cohort of aspiring development professionals in our era of mass systemic inequality on economic, racial, gendered, sexual, and other, oft-intersecting lines. it also shares ideas for future teaching practice, not least my own.

Paper short abstract:

Examining post-colonial feminist development in Assam's tea gardens, this study delves into identity politics, social justice, and gender dynamics. It reveals historical imbalances, traces feminist strategies, and emphasizes inclusive development, contributing to post-colonial feminist discourse.

Paper long abstract:

This study explores the intricate interplay of post-colonial feminist development, social justice, and identity politics in Assam's tea gardens. Rooted in a history of exploitative labor practices during the colonial era, the tea industry in Assam has disproportionately impacted women, constituting a significant part of the workforce. Post-colonial initiatives aimed at feminist development and social justice seek to rectify historical gender imbalances, recognizing the nuanced role of women and navigating the complex dynamics of gender identity politics within tea plantation communities.

Beginning with an examination of the enduring impact of colonialism on Assam's tea gardens, the study highlights entrenched patriarchal structures in labor relations. The evolution of post-colonial feminist development strategies is then traced, encompassing educational programs, skill development initiatives, and the active promotion of women's involvement in decision-making processes.

The study underscores the multi-dimensional aspects of social justice, incorporating economic, social, and gender considerations. Feminist approaches to development not only address gender-based disparities but also engage with broader identity politics within the tea industry. The analysis extends to the impact of these initiatives on the overall well-being of tea garden communities, emphasizing the necessity for inclusive development strategies that navigate the intricate terrain of gender and identity politics.

Drawing on empirical data and case studies, the study offers a comprehensive analysis, contributing to the discourse on post-colonial feminist theory and development studies. It sheds light on the complexities of navigating identity politics through feminist lens within the context of tea plantation economies in Assam.

Paper short abstract:

This study analyzes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a postcolonial lens, highlighting the impact of British colonial legacies and Western media portrayal. It focuses on the persistent marginalization of Palestinians and calls for a reframing that recognizes all parties' humanity.

Paper long abstract:

This study critically explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a postcolonial lens, examining the enduring impact of British colonial legacies and their influence on the region's contemporary dynamics. Central to this analysis is that the challenges faced in Palestine today are direct consequences of historical colonial actions, exacerbated by persistent global power imbalances. Employing Butler's "Frames of War," we scrutinise Western media's portrayal of the conflict, revealing systematic dehumanisation and marginalisation of Palestinian lives. This is complemented by an in-depth application of Nussbaum's concept of dehumanisation to explore the impact of colonial-established global hierarchies. The methodological approach involves a review of historical documents and a Butlerian media framing analysis, providing a nuanced understanding of how Western political and military involvement, shaped by the global status quo influenced the current state of the conflict. The study includes recent events, such as the October 7th, 2023 attacks, highlighting their connection to long-standing historical grievances and systemic oppression. Statistical data, including casualty figures and economic impacts, underscore the humanitarian crisis and the need for a comprehensive approach to conflict resolution. This research contributes to the academic discourse by emphasising the role of Western governments in perpetuating the conflict and advocating for critical reframing. It underscores the necessity of policies that prioritise human rights, justice, and the humanity of all parties involved, particularly the marginalised and oppressed. By addressing the historical and contemporary factors that perpetuate the conflict, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and pave the way for meaningful social and political transformation.