Using case studies
- Case studies are useful ways of putting what might seem like abstract concepts into very real and concrete terms. Case studies are essential source materials for investigating a particular issue and/or region. By finding and reading case studies, students can begin to build their own picture of the issue for reference or further study.
- Case studies can be used as an information base. They can be examined both in terms of the information and the viewpoints they present. Students should be encouraged to consider both.
- Most case studies present a particular case example that can be used in any debate or discussion to present and/or strengthen an argument. Students should be encouraged to refer to particular case studies when presenting arguments.
As well as examining certain concepts through case studies, it would be useful to give the students the opportunity to do a case study themselves on a particular issue in their locality. The students need to consider what makes a good case study e.g. statistics, quotes, historical background, looking at things from a social, economic, and political perspective etc. It is important to note that both the content of the case study and how it is presented that are important.
Case Study Example: Women and Politics in Africa
Although women constitute half of the electorate in Africa and elsewhere, they had only 10% of the seats in the world's parliaments and only 6% in national cabinets. Studies in Zimbabwe and Tanzania have shown that the number of women members of Parliament very rarely exceeds 10% despite the introduction of a quota system in Tanzania. This means that not only are women excluded from exercising political power, women's issues and viewpoints are often absent from political decision making. However, it should be noted that in South Africa, 24% of those elected to parliament were women - one of the highest rates overall.
In many parts of Africa women are also discriminated against in legal matters. For example, in North Africa women married to foreigners cannot transfer their citizenship to their husbands, men can transfer it to their wives. In Botswana, women are still under the permanent guardianship of their husbands and cannot own property - discrimination against women in the ownership of land is widespread. Of the 41 UN members who have not signed the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against, 11 are African.
In conflict situations women are also particularly affected by violence both in war situations and even in their own households. Women and children have been particularly badly affected by recent wars and conflicts in the region and violence against women generally is widespread and in some cases is growing.
In contrast to this trend, women are increasingly playing a central role in many of the popular organisations that now play a major role in development throughout the continent. Women are very much to the fore in locally based organisations in agriculture, health, education and community development. This means that the power of the women's movement in Africa will increase in future years.
Source: UNDP Human Development Report, 1995.
Either individually or in groups, consider the following questions:
- What is the focus of this case study?
- What figures are given in relation to the issue and why are they important?
- What main points is the author making?
- What other related issues about women?s participation does the author refer to?
- What human rights issues does this case study raise? Are there any important issues left out?
- Then consider whether or not they feel the role of women is an important development question - why? why not?
- Identify and discuss other issues that are important to look at in terms of the role of women e.g. health, education, work.
- Select one of these issues and compile their own case study from a particular country or region or globally. Use a range of sources if possible, statistics, interviews, research, reports etc.
In most respects it is still an unequal world.