Stitching toward empowerment: A case study of Tabiro Ladies’ Club

In the developing world, women are more likely than men to work in poorly paid occupations in the informal sector. Women are responding to this inequality by forming and joining co-operatives. Women-only co-operatives offer members the opportunity for employment and empowerment through income generating opportunities and capacity building. A case study was conducted on an informal women-only embroidery handicraft co-operative located in the Mpigi District of Uganda to explore the relationship between co-operatives and empowerment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 members of the Tabiro Ladies’ Club, in addition to key informant interviews, participant observation, and a feedback workshop. Members of the Tabiro Ladies’ Club experienced empowerment at the personal, collective, and relational level. Empowerment effects that the women experienced included direct economic benefits, social capital and recognition, and capacity development. Hindrances included economic struggles within the household and the club and difficulties arose from being unregistered with the Ugandan government as a co-operative.