Gender Equality Through Women’s Empowerment In Cherengany Sub County, Transzoia County

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze gender equality through women’s empowerment in Cherengany sub county, TransNzoia County. The problem that prompted this study is the gloomy picture painting women's situation in the study area. The specific objectives were: to assess the impact of education on women’s empowerment. The research draws from Marxist Feminist theory, Conflict Feminist theory and Sen’s capability approach. The research is conceptualized considering three important dimensions of women's empowerment; economic decision making, household decision making and freedom of mobility. From the literature reviewed, the study was justified on the basis that household power relations aspect of empowerment is not extensively researched. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study with a target population of 40, 181 households and a sample size of 381 women selected using simple random sampling technique. A multiple regression model was used to analyze the data with procedures within SPSS. The findings indicate that education has a significant positive effect on women empowerment. The study recommends policies to be formulated aimed at promoting equity in household power relations so as to reduce the probability of women being placed in subordination; consequently it will enhance women’s freedom and capabilities to make choices, improve their well-being and that of the entire household and enable them realize their full potential and rights.

Keywords; Women Empowerment, Gender Equality, Education