Gender, wealth, and participation in community groups in Meru Central District, Kenya:

"TA mixed-methods, multiple-stage approach was used to obtain data on how gender and wealth affected participation in community groups in Meru, Kenya, and how men and women farmers obtain and diffuse agricultural information. Research techniques included participant observation, documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews, social mapping, group timelines, and structured questionnaires. Dairy-goat farmer groups were interviewed for the study. Qualitative data provided baseline information, and helped in the formulation of research questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using contingency tables, descriptive statistics, correlations, tests of significance, and regression. Factors that affected participation in different types of groups included household composition, age, and gender. Women made up 59 percent of the dairy-goat group (DGG) members, with the DGG project encouraging women's participation. Women made up 76 percent of DGG treasurer positions; 43 percent of secretary positions, and 30 percent of chairperson positions. Gender also influenced participation in clan groups, water groups, and merry-go-round (savings and loans) groups. Wealth did not appear to have a significant effect on participation in community groups. Extension was the most important information source for both men and women farmers. However, church and indigenous knowledge (passed on from parents) seemed more important to women. Both men and women mentioned other farmers, groups, and “baraza” (public meetings used to make announcements and diffuse information) as important information sources, but they rated them at different levels of importance. Men were diffusing information to greater numbers of people than women, although men and women diffused to similar sources. This study shows that because men and women traditionally participate in different types of groups and receive agricultural information from different sources, development agencies must target different types of groups and institutions to reach men, women, or poor farmers. Mechanisms should be developed to include women, the poor, and other targeted groups in community associations that provide market and other income-earning opportunities.." Author's AbstractGender, Collective action,

Writers\u27 Workshop arrives in Dayton

This year, the Erma Bombeck Writers\u27 Workshop is taking place April 5-7. Writers from all over the country have gathered at River Campus to attend the workshop. This workshop offers many sessions, and the topics covered include humor writing, getting published, finding your voice, and more

Thawing out

A week ago, temperatures were in the negatives, but today brings warmer weather. At 50 degrees, the snow is melting and the animals are coming back out to enjoy the warmth. This robin watches over campus from his perch, soaking in the winter sun

Spring in full swing

It finally feels like spring outside; the weather is warm, the sun is out, and flowers are blooming everywhere. We just have one more week before summer, so don\u27t forget to enjoy the beauty of a spring campus while you\u27re here

Perfect alignment

No, that\u27s not smoke billowing out of the Powerhouse chimney. On this warm summer day, the sky is nearly free of clouds, but this one drifted past slowly enough to create the perfect illusion. The Powerhouse once was the power source for all of the University of Dayton

Signs of spring

It may have been a little chilly the past few days, but evidence of spring can be found across campus. Green plants are sprouting and beginning to flower. Spring does not officially begin until March 20th, but perhaps this year it will come a little early

Forging Family Ties

The assignment for this essay was to develop an argument related to gender in the United States and to use your own original research in addition to other sources. First, I thought about prominent issues in the United States and decided to focus on prejudice against homosexual couples who were attempting to adopt children. After doing some initial research, I decided that homosexual adoption rights need to be expanded on in the United States. I did more research on databases and in Roesch Library to find sources that would both support my side of the issue, but also some sources that would provide me with a counterargument. For my original research, I decided to conduct a survey in order to gain insight into other opinions on homosexual adoption rights. This survey was given out on the floor of my residence hall, at my mom’s work, and was posted online to diversify results. There were two rough drafts of this essay, both of which were read to a workshopping group and edited. The second draft was also reviewed by my professor, Dr. Laura Vorachek, and I made changes based on her comments

Bundle up!

Just two days ago, it was hard to imagine the 60-degree temperatures could drop so fast, but today the snow across campus shows us all what Ohio weather is capable of. Here students bundle themselves up against the cold wind as they make their way to classes

Enjoying a snack

In warmer weather, this squirrel stashed some food to get through the winter. After some searching, he was able to locate some of his stockpile and enjoy a meal. By the end of the winter, most of the nuts this squirrel buried will remain unfound and may even begin to sprout in the spring

Getting back into the swing of things

Today is only the second day of classes, but it seems students are already adjusting to their new schedules. Here, a group of students leaves Humanities Building during a morning class change