What is Empowerment for Her? Education and Choice in Post 1991 Ethiopia

The paper analyzes the conception and practice of women’s empowerment in relation to education in Ethiopia and argues that the spirit and understanding of the notion of empowerment is still marred with the social construction of women as caregiver. Education is taken as the main pointer to women’s empowerment that promotes women’s participation in formal jobs and decision making organs. The legal frameworks dealing with the education of women are mainly concerned with access to education and the political participation of women is more influenced by the agenda of the party-state. The educated women in Ethiopia still understand their educational achievement in relation to becoming better wife and mothers in the future. The notion of women’s empowerment in Ethiopia is explored both at the legal regime and lived experiences of women in Addis Ababa. Building on the concepts of ‘choice’ (kabeer 1999) and ‘capability’ (Sen 1999) approaches, the research uses qualitative research methodology mainly relying on life history interviews and official documents.