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Abstract
This article examines how orthodox ideas of empowerment have changed for women living in contexts of insecurity. Drawing on fieldwork interviews on women, peace and security in Fiji, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, the article reveals a range of culturally different ideas on empowerment that emphasise the community. The interview material raises new questions about the centrality of security to many women's concepts of empowerment. The article suggests holistic ways to rethink context-driven empowerment within broad-based notions of peace and security.
Notes
1 The main thrust of grassroots empowerment projects initiated by NGOs involved in community development rejects the idea that profit alone is the sole purpose of economic activity.
2 Our funders gave us initial leads on who to contact and in the main the organisations interviewed came from these recommendations.
3 The number of interviews does not represent a large research base, but this was not a definitive empirical study. Rather the interviews helped to guide our analysis.
4 The interviews have been analysed thematically. Qualitative software was not used. Unreferenced quotations are from fieldwork interviews. The research was approved by the University of South Australia and Flinders University Ethics Committees. Interviewees consented to their words being published and their organisations identified. They are identified by their role and organisation rather than by name.
5 This was the only interview conducted through translation from another member of the men's group to the director of the group.
6 UNIFEM is now part of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
