PRACTICES AND CHALLENEGES OF RURAL WOMEN EMPOWEREMNT IN OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA THE CASE OF GUDURU WOREDA

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify practices and challenges in rural women through assessments of determinant factors in Guduru Woreda of Oromia Regional State taking rural women at household level of four rural kebeles, one rural town and some public sectors women civil servants. Thus, three hundreds and two rural women replied their responses based on designed questionnaires as the sample for the study. A structured interview schedule was used to collect the data from the woreda administrative and woreda women and children affairs office. Focus group discussion was also conducted taking some elite peoples, elders, religious leaders and civil servant found at kebele levels. The data was analyzed by using both descriptive statistics and econometric analysis methods by using binary regression The empowerment level of rural women through taking nine most important indicators was (78.8) percent of the respondent confirms that still rural women empowerment was low at the study area. Lack of information access, low participation of rural women in social affairs and their own matter, lack of freedom of mobility and violence against rural women were the major problems of rural women empowerment at the study area. Poor economic condition of the rural women and lack of law enforcement on gender inequality as well as lack of enthusiasm of policy makers to mitigate harmful traditional act on rural women, low level of rural women participation in decision making position including lack of access to asset and control over economic resources were the major reasons for low level in empowerment of rural women. It is a fact that any political, economic and social activity that doesn’t involve and benefit women cannot be fruitful because such an activity is based on half the society. Though women’s rights to equal participation and benefits, with men, can’t be seen separately from the overall economic and political progress in society, it is an established fact that women’s rights need special attention in the change process. Therefore, the study strongly recommends the decision makers to ensure adequate awareness regarding the importance of rural women’s active participation in the development democratization and peace agenda .Organizing forum with a view of encouraging rural women’s participation and ensuring that women’s rights as emplaced in the Constitution, the family code and other provisions.