OCEAN
7.1. RECOMMENDATIONS
The world economic system and general idea about work have been shaped by the experiences of men in the job market hence a person is accepted as working if he or she is able to bring in an income or wage. However much of women's work is not accounted for in statistics. Women's contribution to the economic growth should not be measured monetarily but should take into account the hours they spend in managing the resources in and around the home, and in making the household members feeling welcome after the day's job.
The focus of the World Bank in promoting gender equality and enhancing economic efficiency is a right step in the right direction. In its policy report for Beijin in 1995, inequality was identified as a major constraint to high-level productivity in the society, tending to slow down economic growth (Bisnath, undated).
The women employees cannot remain in the Project for the rest of their lives.
One of the women interviewed stated that she was getting old and this implies that she was running out of physical energy to perform her duties. The study could not address the plan of the Working for Water project in relation to the exit programme it might have for the workers to enhance their continued empowerment. Incidentally, the Project called for submission of a proposal for an exit programme in May 2001 and it is hoped that this Programme will be able
to work out strategies of keeping and improving on the tempo of empowerment of the women.
The involvement of women in the paid labour force and a range of occupations in the Working for Water Project is a step forward in amending societal imbalances and is highly commendable. More women should, however, be encouraged in management positions. Successful empowerment of women will require their direct involvement and participation in planning, decision-making and implementation of projects. Their involvement will encourage changes in the
.,
consciousness (having a sense of belonging) and identification of need or target areas for changes, analysis of actions and ,evaluation of Qutcomes. This will promote higher level of productivity.
The government of every developing country takes cognisance of the human and physical resources in the rural areas and the consequent need for balanced development (Mabogunje, 1980). South Africa is a middle income developing country with an abundant supply of resources (The World Factbook 2002 - South Africa). Effective planning must take cognisance of women's needs and address their particular needs and interest. In addition, there is the need to incorporate the aspirations of the rural women and motivate them through planning policies.
Planning must ensure that women are involved and represented at the policy research, planning and implementation levels. Their participation in the programmes and projects that affect them give them a sense of belonging and the determination to succeed in such projects.
Furthermore, there is the need for radical improvement and prov~sion of basic infrastructure such as pipe-borne water, postal, health and educational facilities.
The provision of these basic human needs is most desirable and very urgent in order to stem the wave of rural out-migration of young school leavers and able- bodied people (especially men) for 'greener pastures' in the cities thereby destabilizing the family structure. In addition, the government should focus on
resources, production and the need to educate the people in rural communities.
An informed people is an empowered people and they are capable of exercising their right in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values.
Since the rural people are engaged in primary activities such as farming, fishing, mining and forestry, there is the need to encourage rural women to form clubs and organizations and pull their resources together to set up small scale industries. The expansion of women's opportunities in ways that would enhance their productivity and earning potential will raise their standard of living and contribute to better economic performance and family welfare. In this vein, Sen and grown (1987) and Antrobus (1989) had argued that women's organization have the most potential to facilitate the empowerment of women as they develop new structure and cultures that reflect women's needs, interests and behavioural preferences. This will create more jobs for rural women and thereby enhance economic growth. Empowering women does not mean gaining power over men, rather it is gaining mastery over their lives and environment. Rural women should therefore be encouraged to increase their capabilities and capacities to make life choices and be self-reliant. In additiqa. there is the need for the improvement and maintenance of existing roads that link the settlements. This will facilitate the evacuation of agricultural products from areas of production to the consumers.
The condition of living of the majority of the women is degraded by illiteracy that they can best be regarded as victims of development process. Most women have no access to physical resources such as land and even where they have it is attached to a man - husband, indunas, son or father. The government should encourage women to participate and improve their shares in resources, land and employment to effect dramatic changes in their conditions of living.
It is important to note that empowering women does· not necessarily mean disempowering the men. Rather, it is a key to a higher level of men's
. j
empowerment. As men- and women work together, it is more certain that men's and women's issues will be addressed and no party will be left out in development programmes. In this vein, Batliwala (1994 cited in Bisnath undated) argues that women's empowerment liberates and empowers men both in material and psychological terms hence, it affects everyone involved. Thus, the proverb "Behind every successful man is a successful woman" can be reverted as "Beside every empowered woman is an empowered man" and this can be realized in the 'cogniti've, social, political,and economic spheres of life. Going by the earlier definition of empowerment as a process by which women (the powerless) gain better control over their lives, this will entail giving
the~
collective strength and voice as well as protecting them from all forms of exploitation in the society. Batliwala (1994 cited in Bisnath undated) describes this as moving women from absolute lack of power (removing the barriers of illiteracy, lack of skill, information and knowledge about market,job opportunities, self-esteem and self-confidence) to the other extreme of absolute power. This will go a long way in identifying their practical and strategic need, stimulating growth at the grass root level by helping them to gain access to physical resources.