Oppression to Empowerment: Implications for Transformative Education
Main Article Content
Keywords
Empowerment, gender-based violence, transformative education
Abstract
This qualitative case research analyzed the gender-based violence (GBV) encountered by university students and their empowering actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized online in-depth unstructured interviews among eight cases selected for their experience with violence. Using thematic analysis, emerging themes from the interview data included different forms of GBV; such as physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and online, while their empowering strategies were undertaken at the personal, relational, and social levels. This study showed the importance of being empowered to prevail over oppressive experiences. Lessons from the process provided input in applying the principles of transformative education. Expectedly, the findings will address issues on policy research on GBV and methodological challenges in transformative education.
Publication History
Version of Record online: June 19, 2023
Manuscript accepted: June 13, 2023
Manuscript revised: June 8, 2023
Manuscript received: February 27, 2023
References
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Haque, M., Islam, T. M., Tareque, I., & Mostofa, G. (2011). Women empowerment or autonomy: A comparative view in Bangladesh context. Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology, 8(2), 27-30.
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Reyes, Z. Q., & Valencia, M. C. (2018). Transformative pedagogy in women studies. AsTEN Journal of Teacher Education Special Issue, 30-40.
Sandhya, S. J. (2015). Impact of education in women empowerment in Bagalkot district, Karnataka. Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 4(2), 87-94.
Sekar, M., Sundaram, M., & Alagarsamy, S. (2014). Women empowerment: Role of education. International Journal in Management and Social Science, 2(12), 76-85. https://www.ijmr.net.in.
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Shrewsbury, C. M. (1997). What is feminist pedagogy? Women's Studies Quarterly, 25(1/2), 166-173.
Sida (2015). Gender-based violence and education. Gender toolbox brief. March https://cdn.sida.se/publications/files/-gender-based-violence-and-education.pdf
Sorbring, E., Deater-Deckard, K., Erlandsson, S. I., Svensson, Y., eds. (2022). The Consequences of COVID-19 on the Mental Well-being of Parents, Children, and Adolescents. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Media SA. file:///C:/Users/pc/Downloads/9782889760558%20(2).PDF
Tandon, T. (2016). Women empowerment: Perspectives and views. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(3). DIP: 18.01.134/20160303.
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United Nations [UN] Women (2020). Gender snapshot: COVID-19 in the Philippines. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20ESEAsia/Docs/Publications/2020/04/PHLCOVID%20Gender%20Snapshot%20April%202020.pdf
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Upadhyay, U.D., Gipson, J.D., Withers, M., Lewis, S., Ciaraldi, E. J., Fraser, A., Huchko, M. J., & Prata, N. (2014). Women's empowerment and fertility: A review of the literature. Soc Sci Med, 115, 111-20. https://doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.06.014.
Valdez, I.K., Encarnado, H.J., Eala, M.A., & Ly-Uson, J. (2022). Violence against women in the Philippines. The Lancet Public Health, 7(4). E301 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00028-7
World Economic Forum. (2022). Global gender gap report 2022.https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2022.pdf?_gl=1*1l232m3*_up-*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgaGgBhC8ARIsAAAyLfHRFYa7UjeIMu3V47qExQNfHqyvM0viEXwicicaPK1GzPm724kd4-oaAuHtEALw_wcB
Attom, L.E. (2021). Transformative learning pedagogies: Reflective practice in reproductive health in Ghana. In Lopez, A. E., & Olan, E. L. (Eds.). Re-imagining Transformative Leadership in Teacher Education. IAP.
Branlat, J., Velasquez, J., & Hellstrand. I. (2023). Tentacular classrooms: Feminist transformative learning for thinking and sensing. Journal of Transformative Education, 21(1), 26-40. https://doi: 10.1177/15413446211068556.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Bushra, A., & Wajiha, N. (2015). Assessing the socio-economic determinants of women empowerment in Pakistan. Elsevier: Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 177(2015), 3-8. https://doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.321.
Castillo, M. (2021). Is the Philippine government COVID-19 response gender-blind? NCPAG Working Paper 2021-02. National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG). https://ncpag.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/CASTILLO_Covid_Gender_07262021.pdf.
Christie, M., Carey, M., Robertson, A., & Grainger, P. (2015). Putting transformative learning theory into practice. Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 55(1), 9-30.
Engida, Y. M. (2021). The three-dimensional role of education for women empowerment. Journal of Social Sciences, 17(3), 32-38. https://doi: 10.3844/jssp.2021.32.38.
European Institute for Gender Equality [EIGE] (n.d.). Forms of violence. https://eige.europa.eu/gender-based-violence/forms-ofviolence
Flyvbjerg, B. (2011). Case study. In Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 4th Edition. (pp. 301-316). Sage.
Freire, P. (1970). The pedagogy of the oppressed. The Continuum International Publishing Group.
Gaffney, J. L. (2020). Your story is your strength: Developing an ethic of care transformative learning. University of Wisconsin, USA. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/80262
Gholipour, A., Rahimian, A., Mirzamani., A., & Zehtabi, M. (2010). IMPACT model of women's empowerment. International Business Research, 3(1). doi:10.5539/ibr.v3n1p57, 57-65.
Ghosh, R., Chakravarti, P., & Mansi, K. (2015). Women's empowerment and education: Panchayats and women's self-help groups in India. Policy Futures in Education, 13(3), 294-314. https://doi:10.1177/1478210315571214.
Habib, K., Shafiq, M., Afshan, G., & Qamar, F. (2019). Impact of education and employment on women empowerment. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(3)(s), 62-74. ISSN: 1805-3602.
Haque, M., Islam, T. M., Tareque, I., & Mostofa, G. (2011). Women empowerment or autonomy: A comparative view in Bangladesh context. Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology, 8(2), 27-30.
Hazarika, D. (2011). Women empowerment in India: A brief discussion. International Journal of Educational Planning & Administration, 1(3), 199-202. Research India Publications. https://www.ripublication.com/ijepa.htm.
Leach, F. (2004). Gender, education, and training: An international perspective. In C. Sweetman (Ed.), Gender, Education, and Training, (pp. 17-34). OXFAM Focus on Gender. Carfax Publishing Co.
Mezirow, J. (1997). Transformative learning: Theory to practice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, (74), 5-12.
Madrigal-Borloz, V. (2020). Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Report to the UN General Assembly. July 28. https://undocs.org/A75/258
Mittal, S., & Singh, T. (2020). Gender-based violence during COVID-19 pandemic: A mini-review. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 1(4). https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.202.00004
Madsen, S. R., & Cook, B. J. (2010). Transformative learning: UAE, women, and higher education. Journal of Global Responsibility, 1(1), 127-148.
Nagashima-Hayashi, M., Durrance-Bagale, A., Marzouk, M., Ung, M., Lam, S. T., Neo, P., & Howard, N. (2022). Gender-based violence in the Asia-Pacific Region during COVID-19: A hidden pandemic behind closed doors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4):2239. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042239
Olakulein, F. K., & Ojo, O. D. (2012). Distance education as a women empowerment strategy in Africa. International Women Online Journal of Distance Education, 1(1), Article 04. ISSN: 2147-0367.
Oxfam. (2021). The ignored pandemic: The dual crises of gender-based violence and COVID-19 Briefing Paper. https://doi:10.21201/2021.8366.
Reyes, Z. Q., & Valencia, M. C. (2018). Transformative pedagogy in women studies. AsTEN Journal of Teacher Education Special Issue, 30-40.
Sandhya, S. J. (2015). Impact of education in women empowerment in Bagalkot district, Karnataka. Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 4(2), 87-94.
Sekar, M., Sundaram, M., & Alagarsamy, S. (2014). Women empowerment: Role of education. International Journal in Management and Social Science, 2(12), 76-85. https://www.ijmr.net.in.
Shetty, S., & Hans, V. B. (2015). Role of education in women empowerment and development: Issues and impact. SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2665898.
Shrewsbury, C. M. (1997). What is feminist pedagogy? Women's Studies Quarterly, 25(1/2), 166-173.
Sida (2015). Gender-based violence and education. Gender toolbox brief. March https://cdn.sida.se/publications/files/-gender-based-violence-and-education.pdf
Sorbring, E., Deater-Deckard, K., Erlandsson, S. I., Svensson, Y., eds. (2022). The Consequences of COVID-19 on the Mental Well-being of Parents, Children, and Adolescents. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Media SA. file:///C:/Users/pc/Downloads/9782889760558%20(2).PDF
Tandon, T. (2016). Women empowerment: Perspectives and views. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(3). DIP: 18.01.134/20160303.
United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA]. (2023). What is gender-based violence (GBV)? https://www.usaforunfpa.org/what-is-gender-based-violence-gbv/.
United Nations [UN] Women (2020). Gender snapshot: COVID-19 in the Philippines. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20ESEAsia/Docs/Publications/2020/04/PHLCOVID%20Gender%20Snapshot%20April%202020.pdf
United Nations [UN] (1993). Declaration on the elimination of violence against women. ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/declaration-elimination-violence-against-women.
Upadhyay, U.D., Gipson, J.D., Withers, M., Lewis, S., Ciaraldi, E. J., Fraser, A., Huchko, M. J., & Prata, N. (2014). Women's empowerment and fertility: A review of the literature. Soc Sci Med, 115, 111-20. https://doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.06.014.
Valdez, I.K., Encarnado, H.J., Eala, M.A., & Ly-Uson, J. (2022). Violence against women in the Philippines. The Lancet Public Health, 7(4). E301 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00028-7
World Economic Forum. (2022). Global gender gap report 2022.https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2022.pdf?_gl=1*1l232m3*_up-*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgaGgBhC8ARIsAAAyLfHRFYa7UjeIMu3V47qExQNfHqyvM0viEXwicicaPK1GzPm724kd4-oaAuHtEALw_wcB
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Jun 19, 2023
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How to Cite
Valencia, M., & `Reyes, Z. (2023). Oppression to Empowerment: Implications for Transformative Education. The Normal Lights, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.56278/tnl.v17i1.1910
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Research Article
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