Voices for Change: Rural Women and Communication

This publication aims to explore the role that communication can play in promoting development. It notes that communication processes can give rural women a voice to advocate changes in policies, attitudes and social behaviour or customs that negatively affect them. The same processes can help women exchange experiences, find common ground for decisions, take more control of their lives and add value to their role as active partners in rural and sustainable development.

This book discusses the fact that, since women and men play different roles in agricultural and rural development, communication media and strategies should reflect their diverse needs and priorities. For communication to give a voice to rural women and help them realise their potential, they must first have the means to be heard. In other words, they need access to communication channels and media as well as the knowledge and skills to use them.

Topics include:

• Communication in a changing world;
• Giving a voice to rural women;
• Communication as a social process;
• Women's communication needs;
• Communication approaches;
• Mass media;
• Traditional media; and
• Improving women's access to new technologes.