The Relationship between the Women Local Council Members and their Socio-Cultural and Economic Effectiveness: The Case of Seka Chokorsa Woreda, Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the women being members of local council and their economic and socio-cultural defectiveness. As a result, the current study addressed these formulated specific objectives: to discuss the extent of women participation in local council of Seka Chokorsa woreda; to examine the relationship between women’s being local council member and their socio-cultural and economic effectiveness in Seka Chokorsa woreda; to identify the major socio-cultural challenges women of Seka Chokorsa woreda council members face to be economically effective. Descriptive design was employed. Census sampling technique was used to include the Seka Chokorsa local council members (51 women). Questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion were used to gather data from the participants. Mixed data analysis technique was used to analyze the collected data. Furthermore, Pearson correlation product moment was employed to address the relationship between the pre economic, post economic and pre socio-cultural and post socio-cultural effectiveness of the women. The study revealed that most women were effectively participating in the council and their economic and socio-cultural status scaled up after they joined the council. The attitudes of the society members and the women themselves changed on the defectiveness and abilities of the women. As a result, it has found the women have improved their self confidence. Moreover, the post economic status of the women has been found to have moderate and significant relationship with the women’s being the council member. Both pre and post socio-cultural effectiveness of the women found to have significant relationship with their being the council membership. Lack of smooth communication from center to remote area to participate the women in the proposed meeting and short term training that the institution used to scale up the members’ political skill because as the background of the study revealed most women of the council are illiterate. Therefore, the current study concluded that the women’s council participation improved their economic and socio-cultural effectiveness. Based on this the study recommended that the council institution should give contentious short term training and launch sustainable communication systems among the council members and the council itself; the Seka Woreda administration should formulate different programs along which the women share their experiences among themselves and other women.