Empowerment Programs and Success of Intervention Efforts: Cases from India

• In Event: Insights for Prevention and Intervention of Gendered Physical and Sexual Violence

Abstract

Can “empowered” women lead successful intervention efforts against domestic violence? Researchers have argued that empowerment programs have both intended and unintended beneficial consequences on the lives of women participants. This is particularly true for the global south where findings suggested that with women’s increased participation in community based empowerment programs, the ability of women to take independent decisions. This paper takes a closer look at how participation in empowerment programs affects intervention against domestic violence among grassroots women in India. The data for this project is based on a larger study of participants in two different models of empowerment programs. Drawing from interviews, focus groups, and participant observations with 51 women participants (group leaders and survivors) findings suggest that the power of collective mobilization as observed through organizational networks has an important impact on successful intervention against domestic violence. Further, while all participants experience some degree of empowerment in their lives, the effects of empowerment vary by the regional and religious context. Finally successful intervention against domestic violence depends to a large extent on the individual capability of the leader to mobilize against domestic violence.

Authors

• Soma Chaudhuri, Michigan State University

• Merry Morash, Michigan State University