Title: Women's empowerment in Bangkok urban poor areas
Author: Kelsy Ann Cummings
Year: 2009
Keywords: WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, URBAN POOR AREAS, NGOS
Theme: Gender
Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon, advisor
The full thesis available here.
Abstract: Women's empowerment is viewed as a crucial factor in supporting development at the family, community, and national levels. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide and in Thailand frequently develop projects and activities that promote women's empowerment. This research has two main objectives: firstly, to study the success of the Duang Prateep Foundation, an NGO working in Bangkok, in empowering women in the urban poor community of Khlong Toei; and secondly, to examine how poor women define power and empowerment. This research employed a document review to assess currently available information and published documents, identify knowledge gaps on this issue, and define key conceptual frameworks. Following the document review, the findings indicate a lack of research on women's empowerment in urban poor areas of Thailand. This research aims to fill this gap. The researcher studied women's perspectives on "power" and empowerment, as well as the success of the Duang Prateep Foundation in empowering women. Interviews were conducted using questionnaires and in-depth interviews with seven women in the Khlong Toei urban poor community. These women had participated in activities and projects initiated by the Duang Prateep Foundation. After collecting and evaluating the data, the research found that the Duang Prateep Foundation's projects and activities contributed to the empowerment of the women who participated. However, this study does not present a new definition or perspective on the concepts of "power" and empowerment. Women's empowerment is viewed as a valid contributing factor for development at a household, community, and countrywide level. NGOs around the world and in Thailand often develop projects and activities to encourage women's empowerment. This study has two purposes. One is to determine if Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF), a Thai NGO in Bangkok is successful in empowering women in Khlong Toei Urban Poor Area; and the second is to determine how poor women define empowerment.The Literature Review was conducted with the aim of evaluating the current literature on the topic; to uncover a Knowledge Gap and to define Key Concepts. After a review of the current literature it was discovered that there is a lack of studies pertaining women's empowerment in Urban Poor Areas in Thailand. Thus, this study seeks to fill this gap. To determine how women view empowerment, and if DPF is successful in empowering women, a questionnaire was administered to seven women in Khlong Toei Urban Poor Area, who have been involved in activities and projects initiated by DPF. Questionnaires were administered with the aid of a Thai translator After an evaluation of the data, it was found that DPF's projects and activities generally increase empowerment for the women are involved with them. However, this study did not establish any new ways of defining empowermen