Major Challenges faced by female students and the role of the Yellow movement in empowering female students, the case of Addis Ababa University.
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Date
2020-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Literature reviews show significant challenges female students face in universities and the power and impact of social movements in solving challenges faced by specific groups within a given society. This study was intended to explore the challenges the female students face in Addis Ababa University and the role of the yellow movement in empowering female students with the Addis Ababa University. The specific objective of this study is to explore the type of challenges female students face, explore the types of services provided by the yellow movement, explore the type of empowerment the yellow movement brought on female students and examine if policy or structural level changes have been brought as a result of the yellow movement in the Addis Ababa University. The study applied a qualitative study method with an In-depth interview, key informant interview, and desk review methods of data collection. The primary participants of this study are female students that are both beneficiaries and the members of the yellow movement. While in-depth interview has been conducted with the female students that are beneficiaries and members of the movement; Key informant interview has been conducted with the movement’s Co-founder and the Addis Ababa university Gender office director. The study explored female students in the Addis Ababa University face significant challenges such as Sexual harassment and abuse, financial constraints, and lack of gender-sensitive psychical environment and policy. About the challenges, female students faced the yellow movement provided a safe space and the solidarity for female students to discuss issues of sexual reproductive, gender-based violence issues, and women empowerment opportunities. The movement through activism and advocacy events, mentorship programs, book clubs, and capacity building training in the university provided female students the opportunity to raise their confidence and empower them to voice their gender-related issues. The study also explored that the movement empowers female students economically through fundraising programs. The movement also influences the Addis Ababa University structure and policy by providing legal aid support for female students dealing with sexual harassment and abuse and being engaged in the revision of the university’s code of conduct to ensure anti-sexual harassment articles are included in the policy.
Keywords:Female students, Challenges of female students, social movements empowering female students, Women Empowerment through education.
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Keywords
:Female students, Challenges of female students, social movements empowering female students, Women Empowerment through education.