Research master thesis | Middle Eastern Studies (research) (MA)
open access
Since 2011, Yemen has been torn apart by two subsequent crises: the 2011 uprisings which sought to overthrow the Saleh-government, and the current conflict between the Houthis and the government of...Show moreSince 2011, Yemen has been torn apart by two subsequent crises: the 2011 uprisings which sought to overthrow the Saleh-government, and the current conflict between the Houthis and the government of president Hadi. Although women are often portrayed as primary victims of these crises, such moments of profound change can also offer possible positive changes for women. In this thesis, I analyse the impact of these two crises – the 2011 uprisings and the current conflict – on women’s political empowerment in Yemen. Did women get more opportunities to participate in politics due to these crises? Two important conclusions follow from this research. Firstly, there is a notable difference between women’s participation in informal politics and formal politics during and after crises; although women might be empowered in informal politics, this does not necessarily lead to empowerment in formal politics. And secondly, different crises have different impacts on women’s political participation. The nature of the subsequent formal political process determines the likelihood of women’s formal political empowerment.Show less
The EU is per se, not an obstacle to the empowerment of migrant women and especially not deliberately so. On the contrary, EU and UN initiatives, such as UNIFEM and UN women, function as an...Show moreThe EU is per se, not an obstacle to the empowerment of migrant women and especially not deliberately so. On the contrary, EU and UN initiatives, such as UNIFEM and UN women, function as an instrument in which women can claim their rights. However, there are shortcomings in the current legal framework regarding women in migration that can and ought to be improved. First, the contextual and relational nature of gender-based discrimination remains unacknowledged. Second, treating all migrant women as universally vulnerable leads to the marginalization of the subgroup. Third, the EU guidelines are non-binary and do therefore not ensure gender equal treatment and furthermore gender is only an addition to the existing legal framework, which treats women as ‘exceptional’ and not as a part of the main assumption. Fourth, the EU lacks empowering instruments for migrant women. These challenges must be addressed if the EU wishes to fulfill its normative role of ensuring gender equality in migration.Show less
Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the World and accounts for around 36.5 Billion US dollars’ worth of trade, according to the UN (2017, 180). It is a widely democratized beverage in...Show moreCoffee is one of the most traded commodities in the World and accounts for around 36.5 Billion US dollars’ worth of trade, according to the UN (2017, 180). It is a widely democratized beverage in western societies nowadays, with the largest importers in the World being the EU and the US. How can coffee trade contribute to both the development of the Latin American countries and the empowerment of its small producers? The aim of this paper is to provide practical solutions that can be implemented to empower the producers, at each of the stages of the coffee supply chain. Within the framework of the New Rural Development paradigm, this paper finds that producing countries should help the individual producers by providing an enabling environment for better producing conditions and should coordinate with other producing countries to, again, strengthen their negotiating power vis-à-vis developed consuming countries. The consuming countries, in turn, should not hinder the development of the producing countries with discriminatory import tariffs and should instead provide the legal and executive framework allowing producing countries to develop themselves. Finally, individual consumers should voice their support for better living conditions for the coffee producers by buying products from sustainable supply chains.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
closed access
This thesis will explore the effectiveness of the unique developmental approach of the Indian Women's Union SEWA. This women's union and activist network works through the agency of self-employed...Show moreThis thesis will explore the effectiveness of the unique developmental approach of the Indian Women's Union SEWA. This women's union and activist network works through the agency of self-employed women to empower and develop. By using the conceptual debate of structure and agency, this thesis will make a contribution to the effectiveness of projects for women empowerment in India.Show less
High prevalence of HIV, teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions are challenges faced by many countries in the Global South. Research shows that much of the health problems that arise are due to a...Show moreHigh prevalence of HIV, teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortions are challenges faced by many countries in the Global South. Research shows that much of the health problems that arise are due to a lack of general basic understanding on reproductive biology. However engaging in open discussions on sexual and reproductive health is not always fruitful due to social and cultural barriers. Using the theory of empowerment, the thesis looks into the relation between ICT, youth and public health in Mara region, Tanzania. Research findings point to a growing usage of ICT within the region, however mostly limited to radio and mobile phones. Efforts in Tanzania to improve information access on public health are visible, although they are more often than not handled as individual cases rather than collective attempts to work towards a long-term goal. A strong centralised system that allocates sufficient funds and resources for further developing sexual and reproductive health matters is therefore required along with research to assess the effectiveness of the changes implemented.Show less
