Skip to main content

Mitigating Gender-Based Violence Through the Economic Empowerment of Women: A Case Study of the Teso Sub-Region in Uganda

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Indigenous Methodologies, Research and Practices for Sustainable Development

Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

This chapter uses a case study of Teso, one of Uganda’s most deprived sub-regions, to examine sustainable economic growth and its impact on women’s health, specifically in relation to gender-based violence (GBV). We seek to understand whether economic ventures prevent or intensify this critical public health issue. Through the lens of intersectionality, we analyse the mechanisms of change within this community and how economic factors and relationships influence each other. Throughout this process we are self-reflective concerning our roles as Western researchers studying an indigenous population. Our research aligns with key criteria for bringing about sustainable change and gender equality in international development, identified through sustainable development goal 5 (SDG) (SDGS UN, 2021). The chapter concludes that economic projects based on indigenous communitarian ethics, namely Ubuntu in this case, alongside community sensitisation projects are vital in mitigating the impact of GBV.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahams, N., Jewkes, R., Laubscher, R., & Hoffman, M. (2006). Intimate partner violence: Prevalence and risk factors for men in Cape Town, South Africa. Violence and Victims, 21(2), 247–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abramsky, T., Watts, C. H., & Garcia-Moreno, C. et al. (2011). What factors are associated with recent intimate partner violence? findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence. BMC Public Health, 11, 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-109

  • Adichie, C. N. (2014). We should all be feminists. Anchor Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alam, S. (2008). Majority world: Challenging the west’s rhetoric of democracy. Amerasia Journal, 34(1), 88–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amnesty.Org. (2007). Amnesty. [Online]. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/press-releases/2007/11/uganda-justice-system-fails-victims-sexual-violence-20071130/. Accessed June 17, 2021.

  • Barrett, P. (2008). The quest for ubuntu is a coming-age South Africa: Questions arising from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s latter ideas. Religion and Theology, 15(1), 63–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedigen, W., Mdee, A., Temlong, R., Thorley, L., & Tshomba, P. (2021). The failure of externally-driven advocacy initiatives to contextualise sub-Saharan marginalised women. Development in Practice, 31(2), 259–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, R. (2005). Women’s economic empowerment as the ‘magic potion’ of development? Paper presented at the ‘100th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association hosted by The American Sociological Association on 13th August 2005 in Philadelphia [Unpublished].

    Google Scholar 

  • Briant Carant, J. (2017). Unheard voices: A critical discourse analysis of the millennium development goals’ evolution into the sustainable development goals. Third World Quarterly, 38(1), 16–41. Available via: Sage. Accessed January 7, 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chant, S. (2008). The ‘feminization of poverty’ and the ‘feminisation’ of anti-poverty programmes: Room for revision?’. In: N. Visvanathan, L. Duggan, N. Wiegersma, & L. Nisonoff, (Eds.), The women, gender and development reader (2nd ed., pp. 174–197). Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chisale, S.S. (2018). Domestic abuse in marriage and self-silencing: Pastoral care in a context of self-silencing. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 74(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Egeru, A. (2012). Role of indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation: A case study of the Teso sub-region, Eastern Uganda. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 11(2), 217–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellsberg, M. C., & Heise, L. (2005). Researching violence against women: A practical guide for researchers and activists. PATH/World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feminist Alternatives. (2011). My dream is to be bold. Pambazuka Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gouws, A., Van Zyll, M. (2015). Care ethics and political theory (D. Daniel Engster, & M. Hamington (Eds.)). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOV.UK. (2021). Travel abroad and coronavirus (COVID-19). [Online]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus. Accessed June 17, 2021.

  • Hague, G., Thiara, R. K., & Turner, A. (2011). Bride-price and its links to domestic violence and poverty in Uganda: A participatory action research study. Women's Studies International Forum, 34(6), 550–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hailey, J. (2008). Ubuntu: A literature review. Tutu Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hankivsky, O. (Ed.). (2012). An intersectionality-based policy analysis framework. Institute for Intersectionality Research and Policy, Simon Fraser University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, D. (2005). A brief history of neoliberalism. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hayhurst, L. M. C. (2014). Using postcolonial feminism to investigate cultural difference and neoliberalism in sport, gender and development programming in Uganda. In K. Young, & C. Okada, (Eds.), Sport, social development and peace (pp. 45–65). Emerald.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulko, W. (2016). LGBT individuals and dementia: An intersectional approach. In: S. Westwood, & E. Price, (Ed.), Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* individuals living with dementia (pp. 179–198). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Igoye, A., Karrel, T., & Van Leeuwen, J. (2021). Listen. Think. Act. Lessons and perspectives in community development. Global Livingstone Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iyanda, A., Boakye, K., Olowofeso, O., Lu, Y., & Salcido Giles, J. (2019). Determinants of gender-based violence and its physiological effects among women in 12 African countries. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 234–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jewkes, R. (2002). Intimate partner violence: Causes and prevention. The Lancet, 359(9315), 1423–1429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandiyoti, D. (1988). Bargaining with patriarchy. Gender & Society, 2(3), 274–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristof, N., & Wudunn, S. (2010). Microcredit: The financial revolution. Half the sky (pp. 204–220). Virago Press Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J., & Maticka-Tyndale, E. (1999). Escort services in a Border Town: Methodological challenges conducting research related to sex work. Health Canada, Division of STD Prevention and Control.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manne, K. (2019). Down girl (1st ed.). Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbazzi, B., Femke, R., Nalugya, E., Kawesa, H., T Nambejja, P., Nizeyimana, P., Ojok, G., & Seeley, J. (2020). ‘Obuntu Bulamu’—Development and testing of an indigenous intervention for disability inclusion in Uganda. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 22(1), 403–416. Available via ProQuest. Accessed October 9, 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz, T. (2013). The western ethic of care or an Afro-communitarian ethic? Specifying the right relational morality. Journal of Global Ethics, 9(1), 77–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mogale, R., Burns, K., & Richter, S. (2012). Violence against women in South Africa. Violence Against Women, 18(5), 580–594. Available via ProQuest. Accessed October 9, 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty, C. (2003). Under western eyes. Revisited: Feminist solidarity through Anticapitalist struggles. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 28(2), 499–535. Available via ProQuest. Accessed October 9, 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molyneux, M., & Razavi, S. (2002). Gender justice, development, and rights. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mootz, J. J., & Stabb, S.D. (2019). Strategies and considerations for transnational feminist research: Reflections from research in Uganda. In Strategies and considerations for transnational feminist research: Reflections from research in Uganda. Transnational psychology of women: Expanding international and intersectional approaches (pp. 61–90). American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugumbate, A., & Nyangur, A. (2015). The value of Ubuntu in social work. Exploring African philosophy. African Journal of Social Work, 3(1), 34–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muluneh, M.D., Stulz, V., Francis, L., & Agho, K. (2020). Gender based violence against women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. MDPI AG. A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mwendwa, P., Mutea, N., Kaimuri, M., De Brún, A., & Kroll, T. (2020). Promote locally led initiatives to fight female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)” lessons from anti-FGM/C advocates in rural Kenya. Reproductive Health, 17(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Norwegian Refugee Council., (2021). NRC in Uganda. [online] Available at: https://www.nrc.no/countries/africa/uganda/. [Accessed 13 July 2021].

  • Nyamayaro, E. (2021). I am a girl from Africa. Simon & Schuster UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyěwùmí, O. (1997). The invention of women: Making an African sense of western gender discourses. NED—New edition ed., University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raniga, T. (2016). Participatory experiences of women in economic development cooperatives in Bhambayi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Research on Social Work Practice, 27(2), 215–222. Available via Sage. Accessed May 2, 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rujumba, J., & Kwiringira, J. (2019). ‘If they beat you and your children have eaten, that is fine…’ Intersections of poverty, livelihoods and violence against women and girls in the Karamoja region, Uganda. In: O. Hankivsky, & J. Jordan-Zachery (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of intersectionality in public policy. The politics of intersectionality. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambala E.Z., Cooper, S., & Manderson, L. (2020). Ubuntu as a framework for ethical decision making in Africa: Responding to epidemics. Ethics Behaviour, 30(1), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • SDG UN. Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls [Online]. Accessed November 19, 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A. (2013). Development as freedom. Anchor Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serrant-Green, L. (2011). The sound of ‘silence’: A framework for researching sensitive issues or marginalised perspectives in health. Journal of Research in Nursing, 16(4), 347–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherwin, S. (1998). The politics of women’s health. Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. T. (2005). On tricky ground. The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 3, 85–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Speed, S. (2009). Gendered intersections: Collective and individual rights in indigenous women's experience. In Mark Goodale (Ed.), Human rights: An anthropological reader. Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D.W., Shamdasani, P.N., & Rook, D.W. (2009). Group depth interviews: Focus group research. In The SAGE handbook of applied social research methods (pp. 589–616). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483348858

  • Temple, B. (1997). Issues in translation and cross-cultural research. Sociology, 31(3), 607–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teso Development Trust. (2021), Online. Available at: http://teso.org.uk/. Accessed November 27, 2021.

  • Tol, W., Ebrecht, B., Aiyo, R., Murray, S., Nguyen, A., Kohrt, B., Ndyanabangi, S., Alderman, S., Musisi, S., & Nakku, J. (2018). Maternal mental health priorities, help-seeking behaviors, and resources in post-conflict settings: a qualitative study in Eastern Uganda. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Trudell, B. (2009). Local-language literacy and sustainable development in Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(1), 73–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuyizere, A. (2017). Gender and development. Makerere University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uganda Bureau of Statistics. (2021). UBOS. [Online]. Available at: https://www.ubos.org/. Accessed June 17, 2021

  • UNICEF. (2003). Girls’ education. [Online] Available at: https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education. Accessed July 8, 2021.

  • UNPFA (2021). Gender-based violence. [online] Available at: https://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-violence. [Accessed 17.7.21].

  • UN Women. (2014). Gender equality and sustainable development. World survey on the role of women in development. UN Women. [Online]. Accessed 13th April 2020. https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2014/world-surveyon-the-role-of-women-in-development-2014-en.pdf

  • Westmarland, N., & Bows, H. (2019). Researching gender, violence and abuse (1st ed.). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (2021). Violence against women. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women> [accessed 17.6.21].

  • Wyrod, R. (2008). Between women’s rights and men’s authority: Masculinity and shifting discourses of gender difference in urban Uganda. Gender & Society, 22(6), 799–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuval-Davis, N. (2006). Intersectionality and feminist politics. The European Journal of Women’s Studies, 13(3), 193–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Gibson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bashford-Squires, S., Gibson, L., Nyashanu, M. (2022). Mitigating Gender-Based Violence Through the Economic Empowerment of Women: A Case Study of the Teso Sub-Region in Uganda. In: Mbah, M.F., Leal Filho, W., Ajaps, S. (eds) Indigenous Methodologies, Research and Practices for Sustainable Development. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12326-9_22

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics