Mitch Teberg, MA Associate Member

Journey for Fair Trade: Longwes Womens Empowerment Framework

Longwes Womens Empowerment Framework Control

Empowerment seeks a balance of power between women and men, so that neither is in a position of dominance. It means that women have power alongside men to influence their destiny and that of their society. In Longwes view, empowerment is an inter-connected cycle of countering discrimination and oppression. Addressing the roots of inequality at one level leads to a discussion about all of the other levels. Empowerment takes place as individual women and groups of women move between levels, gaining strength along the way. Empowerment occurs in the Process of Social Change

Mitch Teberg, MA Associate Member Participation / Mobilization The individual woman in the home is not likely to make much progress in challenging traditional norms Power expands in numbers and connection. Mobilization is therefore the fourth and crucial stage of empowerment, which enables the collective analysis of gender issues, and the collective commitment to action. Mobilization is largely concerned with redefining participation in decision making, as participation of a mobilized group will spark the search for empowerment at yet another level. In development projects, it includes involvement in needs assessment, project design, implementation and evaluation. Social Change occurs with mobilization!!! Conscientisation Here an understanding of the difference between sex roles and gender roles comes into force with the belief that gender relations and the gender division of labour should be fair and agreeable to both sides, and not based on the domination of one over the other. Access now pertains to womens access to factors of production, land, labour, credit, training, marketing facilities, and all publicly available services and benefits - on an equal basis with men. Equality of access is obtained by securing equality of opportunity through legal reform to remove discriminatory provisions. Social Change is on the agenda! The gender gap at the welfare level results from inequality of access to opportunity, information, and other resources. Empowerment means that women are 1) made aware of the gap and 2) animated to take actions for gaining access to their fair and equal share of the various resources available within the household, and within the wider system of state provision. Action here takes women automatically to the next level. At this base level work views women as passive recipients and welfare pertains to the level of material welfare of women, relative to men, with respect to food supply, income and medical care, without reference to whether women are themselves the active creators and producers of their material needs. This level is not sustainable nor does it empower women.

Access

Welfare ---------

Mitch Teberg, MA Associate Member Empowerment takes place as individual women and groups of women move between levels, gaining strength along the way; Empowerment occurs in the Process of Social Change. Now, review Fair Trade Principles locate them on this matrix with Longwes Framework and we can see exactly how Fair Trade can function utilizing a Rights-Based Approach: Longwes Womens Empowerment Framework Empowerment seeks a balance of power between women and men, so that neither is in a position of dominance. It means that women have power alongside men to influence their destiny and that of their society. Womens collective analysis of gender issues, and the collective commitment to action. Redefining participation in decision making, as participation of a mobilized group will spark the search for empowerment at yet another level Control Fair Trade Principle Principle 6: The organization actively promotes applications from women for job vacancies and for leadership positions

Participation

Principle 6: Women fully participate in decisions concerning the use of benefits accruing from the production process; The organization respects the right of all employees to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively. Principle 2: The organization finds appropriate, participatory ways to involve employees, members and producers in its decision-making processes. Principle 4: A fair price is one that has been mutually agreed by all through dialogue and participation; equal pay for equal work by women and men. Principle 6: The organization provides opportunities for women and men to develop their skills; in production situations where women's work is valued less highly than men's work, women's work is revalued to equalize pay rates and women are allowed to undertake work according to their capacities. Principle 8: The organization develops the skills and capabilities of its own employees or members; Organizations working directly with small producers develop specific activities to help these producers improve their management skills, production capabilities and access to markets Principle 3: (When a pre-payment is received) from buyers, (the organization) ensure that this payment is passed on to

Understanding of the difference between sex roles and gender roles; division of labour should be fair and agreeable to both sides, and not based on the domination of one over the other. Access now pertains to womens access to factors of production, land, labour, credit, training, marketing facilities, and all publicly available services and benefits - on an equal basis with men.

Conscientisation

Mitch Teberg, MA Associate Member the producers or farmers who make or grow their Fair Trade products. Empowerment means that women are 1) made aware of the gap and 2) animated to take actions for gaining access to their fair and equal share The gender gap at the welfare level results from inequality of access to opportunity, information, and other resources Access Principle 6: The organization does not discriminate (regardless of) gender or sexual orientation; The organization takes into account the special health and safety needs of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Principle 1: The organization supports marginalized small producers it seeks to enable them to move from income insecurity and poverty to economic selfsufficiency and ownership. Principle 6: Organizations working directly with producers ensure that women are always paid for their contribution to the production process, and when women do the same work as men they are paid at the same rates as men.

Welfare

Mitch Teberg, MA 2011 International Consultant Sustainable Development / Fair Trade / Womens Rights and Gender Researcher / Trainer / Consultant www.journeyforfairtrade.blogspot.com Posted on: http://journeyforfairtrade.blogspot.com/2011/11/womens-empowerment-and-fair-trade.html