Since project aims to empower local women, there is a dire need to know self-weighed status of empowerment of the women. Discussion in this sub-section deliberately serves this purpose. Respondents were asked to weigh their position or status of their empowerment compared their perceived definition of empowerment. They were allowed to weigh their status in three scales ranges from ‘poorly empowered’ to ‘medium empowered’ to ‘fully empowered.’
| Scale of empowerment | Battambang | Banteay Meanchey | Siem Reap | TOTAL |
| Poorly empowered | 56.3% | 50.4% | 45.2% | 50.7% |
| Medium empowered | 42.9% | 49.6% | 54.8% | 49.1% |
| Fully empowered | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| TOTAL | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Table above reveals that none of the respondents in Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap province is fully empowered. A negligible number (0.8%) of women in Battambang province is fully empowered. Here full empowerment refers to the accomplishment of all perceived criteria or conditions [as stated in Section 7.2] of empowerment, particularly the ones perceived by the very women. Almost half [49.1% average] of the respondents [54.8% in Siem Reap, 49.6% in Banteay Meanchey and 42.9% in Battambang province] are medium empowered. Medium empowerment refers to medium accomplishment [full of some with combination of partial of the remaining or partial of all] of perceived conditions and criteria of empowerment. Similarly, a little bit more than half [50.7% average] of the respondents [45.2% in Siem Reap, 50.4% in Banteay Meanchey, and 56.3% in Battambang province] are poorly empowered. Poor empowerment refers to none to poor accomplishment of the perceived traits of empowerment.
This is evident that the program aim to empower women is rationale since more than half of the women [respondents] in the target areas are poorly empowered. There is a need for proactive program interventions to empowerment women. Major barriers/obstacles of women’s empowerment. The respondents were then asked about the barriers or obstacles that matter their empowerment. They identified a variety of barriers as listed below:
- No or lack of opportunity
- Low education
- Economic dependence
- Unawareness about their rights
- Men are unlikely to recognize women’s equal rights
- Gender stereotypes
- Afraid of men’s power and violence
- Poor health
- Busy with household work and giving care to children and elderly members in the family
- Poverty
- Men’s traditional gender ideology and dominance
- Lack of experience and skills
What do they identify to address for empowerment?
The respondents were asked about possible strategies and means towards their empowerment. They suggested the followings to take into account in any prospective program interventions:
- Peaceful solution of problems and disputes between men and women. This suggestion particularly refers to the situation of domestic violence.
- Both women and men should know and respect rights of each other. This focuses on mutual respect between men and women with regard to the rights of each other.
- Provide education (literacy) to women.
- Better and improved legal intervention from law enforcing agencies. This particularly make reference to the enforcement of laws such as domestic violence law, family law, and other major national policies that exist to protect women’s rights in the family, community and the nation.
- Improve self-esteem of women. Women usually lack confidence. This happens because of their systematic sub-ordination vis-à-vis lower status. Women should be brave, confident and self-esteemed for their empowerment.
- Interventions that develop occupational and professional development. This is particularly for economic independence of women. Women are unlikely to empower if they are economically dependent to other.
- Use of contraception.
- Participate and involve in meeting. Mixing with others from outside through meeting and other forms of public activities, women can be more self-eccentric and improve their understanding of personal well-being and welfare.
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