Women's Agency and Educational Policy: The Experiences of the Women of Kilome, Kenya (SUNY series, The Social Context of Education)

This fascinating book examines rural African women's experiences of education in Kilome, Kenya, providing engrossing, and oftentimes heartbreaking, testimony on the cultural, historical, social, economic, and political factors that have shaped, and continue to shape, women's educational and economic opportunities there. As a Kamba woman who grew up in rural Kenya and as one who received an education in the metropolitan cities of North America, the author presents these women's stories not simply from an insider's perspective, but as one who has shared experiences of the issues discussed in the book. Highlighting the struggles these women face to provide their children--particularly their daughters--with educational opportunities, the author draws attention to the gender and power issues that limit women's participation in the public sphere and illustrates how women in Kenya have been largely absent at the national level where educational policies are formulated. Contents 6 Preface 10 1. Introduction 14 Main Focus 14 Background 16 Overview of the Book 18 2. Education and Women's Equity: Framing the Context 20 Women and Education in Kenya 21 Women's Economic Activities 26 Women and the Family 30 Women's Self-Help Groups 33 Conclusion 35 3. Research Sites 38 Kithumba Village 40 Kyandue Village 42 Salama Town 44 Choice of Study Area 47 Participants 49 4. Grounding the Methodology of Study 52 Paving the Way: Theoretical Framework 53 Research Design 59 Writing Ethnography 61 Reflections on Doing Research in Kilome Division 62 5. Analyses of Education- and Development-Policy Documents 68 Ominde Report (1964) 72 Sessional Paper # 10: African Socialism and Its Application to Planning Policy (1965) 74 1974-1978 Development Plan 76 Gachathi Report (1976) 77 Mackay Report (1981) 80 Wanjigi Report (1982-1983) 82 Kamunge Report (1988) 84 1989-1993 Development Plan 85 Ndegwa Report (1991) 86 Conclusion 89 6. Kilome Women's Educational Experiences 96 Colonial Background 97 Women's Own Experiences of Education 98 Educational Experiences of Kilome Women's Daughters 107 Conclusion 110 7. Factors Limiting Girls' Educational Opportunities 114 High Cost of Education 115 Traditional Preference to Educate Boys 118 Assumption That Girls Will Get Married 119 Girls' Potential Motherhood 122 Responsibility for Sex Education 125 Poverty 127 Conclusion 129 8. Intensification of Women's Labor to Educate Their Children and Its Implications 132 Importance Women Attach to Educating Daughters 133 Supporting Their Mothers 134 Supporting Their Families 135 Making Marriage Choices 136 Women's Inability to Depend on Husbands for Daughters' Education 139 Intensification of Women's Labor 141 Women's Health 148 Girls' Education 150 Impact on the Welfare of the Family 151 Conclusion 151 9. "Help Me So That I May Help You": Women's Self-Help Movement 154 Kyandue Women's Self-Help Group 156 Kithumba Women's Self-Help Group 160 Salama Women's Self-Help Group 162 Successes and Limitations 163 Exclusiveness of Women's Self-Help Groups 164 Conclusion 166 10. Women's Educational Experiences: Private and Public Discourses on Education in Kenya and Implications for Policy 168 Public and Private Discourses on Education 168 Implications for Policy 177 Support for Girls' Education Starting at the Village Level 181 Reentry of Adolescent Mothers into the School System 181 Introducing Sex Education in Schools and Communities 182 Support for Women as Intervention Agents for Their Daughters' Education 183 Conclusion 184 Notes 186 Bibliography 192 Index 202 A-D 202 D-G 203 G-M 204 M-S 205 S-W 206 W-Z 207 This Book Examines Rural African Women's Experiences Of Education In Kilome, Kenya, Providing Engrossing, And Oftentimes Heartbreaking, Testimony On The Cultural, Historical, Social, Economic, And Political Factors That Have Shaped, And Continue To Shape, Women's Educational And Economic Opportunities There. As A Kamba Woman Who Grew Up In Rural Kenya And As One Who Received An Education In The Metropolitan Cities Of North America, The Author Presents These Women's Stories Not Simply From An Insider's Perspective, But As One Who Has Shared Experiences Of The Issues Discussed In The Book. Highlighting The Struggles These Women Face To Provide Their Children - Particularly Their Daughterswith Educational Opportunities, The Author Draws Attention To The Gender And Power Issues That Limit Women's Participation In The Public Sphere And Illustrates How Women In Kenya Have Been Largely Absent At The National Level Where Educational Policies Are Formulated.--jacket. Education And Women's Equity: Framing The Context -- Research Sites -- Grounding The Methodology Of Study -- Analyses Of Education- And Development-policy Documents -- Kilome Women's Educational Experiences -- Factors Limiting Girls' Educational Opportunities -- Intensification Of Women's Labor To Educate Their Children And Its Implications -- Help Me So That I May Help You: Women's Self-help Movement -- Women's Educational Experiences: Private And Public Discourses On Education In Kenya And Implications For Policy. Mutindi Mumbua Kiluva-ndunda. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 179-188) And Index. "This book examines rural African women's experiences of education in Kilome, Kenya, providing engrossing, and oftentimes heartbreaking, testimony on the cultural, historical, social, economic, and political factors that have shaped, and continue to shape, women's educational and economic opportunities there. As a Kamba woman who grew up in rural Kenya and as one who received an education in the metropolitan cities of North America, the author presents these women's stories not simply from an insider's perspective, but as one who has shared experiences of the issues discussed in the book. Highlighting the struggles these women face to provide their children - particularly their daughterswith educational opportunities, the author draws attention to the gender and power issues that limit women's participation in the public sphere and illustrates how women in Kenya have been largely absent at the national level where educational policies are formulated."--BOOK JACKET.