Different Meanings and Interests over Women's Clubs in Rural Zambia: An Ethnography of Development in Practice

Abstract

The whole population of rural women nominally form the targeted groups. Outsiders assume that women's groups mean the same things to all the actors involved. However, findings from rural Zambia, first, show that each individual saw different interests and meanings in the Women's Clubs independent of the agenda of the initiative, which resulted in their participation and non-participation. Some interpreted the activities of the Women's Clubs differently from those of the outsiders. Even among the members, there were diverse meanings for participation, ranging from economic purposes to just being with others. Non-participation was due to either self-exclusion by choice or by circumstance. Secondly, contrary to the assumption that the group would act as a unit with common interest because of the shared gender, conflict as well as co-operation arises within groups. Women's Clubs faced risks of dissolution or division at junctures. The relevance of development initiatives hinges on more critical reflection on the practices which are heterogeneous and diversified.