PAR as a process of gaining knowledge for economic empowerment: A case study with women in Uganda

Shelley Jones was awarded a Research and Professional Development grant to present findings of the fourth stage of a longitudinal ethnographic case study on Ugandan businesswomen’s paths to success.

This presentation will report on the fourth stage of a longitudinal ethnographic case study in which Ugandan women conducted interviews with successful businesswomen to learn about these businesswomen’s paths to success, as well as challenges they had to overcome. Participants gained basic computer and research skills, as well as beneficial insights into establishing and sustaining successful businesses as well as overcoming challenges. Findings also indicate that the cultivation of research skills was empowering for the participants, and that engagement with the research process greatly expanded participants’ ability to envision business possibilities for themselves as well as build valuable networks with businesswomen.