Troubling Empowerment

Participatory research methodologies and interactivecommunication technologies (ICTs) are increasinglyseen as offering ways of enhancing women'sempowerment and rural community development. Howeversome researchers suggest the need for caution aboutsuch claims. This book details findings from anevaluation of a feminist action research project thatexplored the impacts of ICTs for rural women inQueensland Australia in terms of personal businessand community development. Using praxis andpoststructuralist feminist theories andmethodologies this innovative study presents arigorous analysis and critique of women's empowermentand participation. This study demonstrates the valueof adopting a critical yet pragmatic approach thattakes diversity and difference power-knowledgerelations and the contradictory effects ofparticipation into account. This is argued to enablethe development of more effective strategies forwomen's empowerment participation and inclusion.This book should be of particular interest toresearchers postgraduate students and othersworking in the fields of communication gender andrural development and feminist evaluation andethnography.