The contribution of adult literacy programmes towards gender equality of rural women: a case study from Nepal

Abstract

This dissertation looked at the contribution of adult literacy programmes (ALPs) to the gender equality of rural women. In a patriarchal society directly linked to the Hindu caste system, Nepalese women from remote places and low-caste groups struggle particularly with traditional gender roles and limited freedoms. Acknowledging the benefits of ALPs in developing countries, on the one hand, and realising persistent inequalities among the participants, on the other hand, the researcher explored to what extent surrounding conditions or internal structures of ALPs promote or prevent positive outcomes. For this qualitative case study, the researcher conducted focus group discussions with participating women of ALPs and women of the same rural Nepalese community and also qualitative interviews with local literacy teachers. The researcher selected the participants based on ‘purposive sampling’ and organised the data using deductive analysis strategies. Following the methodical steps of ‘grounded theory’ and qualitative content analysis, the researcher analysed the data to generate a theoretical understanding. The results showed a partial improvement in women's gender equality status. With the help of imparted literacy, numeracy and life skills, ALPs provide rural women with increased freedom of movement and enable them to participate increasingly in community activities and employment. ALPs raise awareness of women's rights and the possibility of changing gender-related responsibilities. However, this research proved that persistent patriarchal structures prevent ALPs from generating more extensive and sustainable achievements towards women's gender equality. As much as gender-focused and awareness teaching during the ALPs emphasise equality between the genders, the deficient consideration of regional inequities and gender-biased teaching material limit the positive outcomes. The study contributes to already established research on the impact of ALPs and contains recommendations for their improved performance.