Understanding the Process of Empowerment for Rural Women

Abstract

This chapter explores the status of women within a historical and socio-political context. An efficient way to understand the status of women and the process of gender empowerment is to delve into the key historical processes that have confronted Algerian women until now. To better understand the current process of women’s empowerment in Algeria, the empowerment framework as outlined by the Beijing Platform of action and as analyzed by Moghadam (2005) will be presented (see chapter 6). To begin with, in order to properly grasp the situation and progress of empowerment for rural Algerian women, one must first look back and examine their changing role in Algeria’s fight for national liberation (1954-1962).