Exploring the Gender Dimension

The specific needs of women have been focal to development projects in recognition that they are usually disproportionately hindered by poverty. Moreover, studies have also shown that with the increase of the income of women there are substantial improvements in the standard of living, livelihoods and wellbeing of children and communities on a whole (Fotheringham & Saunders, 2014); (Nielsen & Samia, 2008; Zapata et al., 2011). Women have been a popular target group for social enterprise projects and intervention and in spite of an overall paucity of research that specifically clarifies the role of social enterprise in poverty reduction, there are some findings that indicate that SE have been beneficial in providing for women ‘increased income, development of skills, improved social and business networks, increased confidence and greater respect and acceptance from families’ (Fotheringham & Saunders, 2014). Participatory methodologies also provide the framework to craft interventions that are relevant and distinctly address the unique needs of women particularly in situations where they are marginalized and disempowered. In this regard, PE and EE are critical tools in creating an enabling environment to that will support them in their traditional roles of caring for the children and family but at the same do not limit them only to these activities.

Critically, participatory evaluation methods should also provide the context for women to have a voice in identifying their needs and to develop the skills to reflect on, to analyze and make decisions regarding their livelihoods. McGehee et al. (2014: 144) report on a study among Afghani women that found that those who were aware of their potential and abilities tended to actively engage in community actions and get involved in productive enterprise. Within the tourism sector there has been a longstanding recognition that tourism offers women an ‘avenue for activism and leadership in community and political life and provides vital employment and entrepreneurial opportunities’ (Figueroa-Domecq, Pritchard, Segovia-Perez, Morgan, & Villace-Molinero, 2015). Female entrepreneurs have also been recognized for their leadership and success in social enterprise businesses in tourism. In a study of female entrepreneurs in tourism in Uganda it was found that 80 % of those sampled were running their businesses for over 10 years thereby indicating their ability to successfully operate and sustain their business over the long term (Katongole, Ahebwa, & Kawere, 2013). This suggests that there have been significant beneficial outcomes that have been gained in specifically targeting women in the developmental agenda of participatory evaluation praxis in social enterprise agencies and interventions.