. INTRODUCTION
The absence of a democratic context has contributed to slow progress in empowering women, particularly at Metropolitan Police department in Cape Town. Women’s empowerment movements have not survived in controlling rules based on gender subordination and ideologies of male dominance. Approaches at Metropolitan Police department have necessarily focused on opportunities and services rather than on political power. Conceptualizations of gender discrimination and male domination have been oversimplified and focused on elimination of obvious oppressive such as wife beating or present demands. Empowerment of women that will have lasting impacts must involve consciousness rising before the social gender, which subordinates women in the family, class, religion, or society can be changed. Few experimental approaches to women empowerment at Metropolitan Police department have been tried: integrated development, women empowerment, and consciousness rising. Consciousness rising has been implemented in awareness groups and education that have led to a new consciousness, self-worth, societal and gender analysis and access to skills and information. The women empowerment approach has relied on improving women’s control over resources and strengthening women’s security. Integrated development approaches have encouraged women’s collectives that have engaged in development and social problem resolution and formed specialised activity groups as means of mobilization of women. Women are encouraged to find a separate time and space for themselves. The above mentioned approaches have different assumptions about the reason for women’s powerless; greater poverty and lower access to resources, vulnerability and subordination within male-controlled societies and inequalities.
2.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM
Woman development and empowerment of women at Metropolitan Police department is an approach of development tasks that began in the 2000’s calling for treatment of women’s issues in development projects. It is the integration of women into the total municipality by improving their status and assisting in total development.
2.2 MAIN PROBLEM STATEMENT
The main problem of this study is the lack of Women Development and Empowerment of women within Metropolitan Police Department (City of Cape Town). What can be done to ensure that women at Metropolitan Department are well developed and empowered? What is the cause of women lacking development and empowerment within Metropolitan Police Department? I would like to investigate the cause and what needs to be done to assist women at Metropolitan Police department.
I believe gender equality is a moral imperative whether you’re in government, business, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or research institutions. Gender bias is still deeply inserted in cultures, economies, political and social institutions around the world. Women face unacceptable levels of discrimination and abuse, which is not only wrong, but also, prevents them from playing a full part in society, organizations and decision-making. More organizations need to understand and address internal imbalances and proactively seek to do so in delivering their business. Not just victims, women have been and can be central actors in pathways to sustainability and green transformation.
2.3 SUBPROBLEMS
2.31. The company’s women empowerment and development of women’s policy does not
make adequate provision for development of women.
2.3.2 No effective measures are in place to promote women’s development within the
Department.
2.3.3 No mechanisms which effectively identify the administrative and support women
development in the department is not in place.
3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
(a) What does the empowerment of women mean within the context of the Metropolitan Police Department and why is it important?
(b) What are the women empowerment initiatives available for women at Metropolitan Police Department?
(c) In what ways have the Metropolitan Police Department women been empowered educationally?
(d) In what areas have the Metropolitan Police Department women participated in the educational development process?
(e) In what ways have the Metropolitan Police Department women been empowered politically?
(f) What are the factors that may influence Metropolitan Police Department women’s full participation in the empowerment and development process?
(g) Does the educational qualification of Metropolitan Police Department women influence their participation in the development process?
(h) Why is women’s empowerment essential for sustainable development?
(i) Is women’s empowerment just the right thing to do?
(j) Women empowerment and changes in family outcomes, how are they affected?
4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
4.1 Primary objectives
The general objective of this study is to assess women development and empowerment on women’s participation in development processes at Metropolitan Police department ‘ City of Cape Town. The specific objectives are:
a) To identify the empowerment initiatives available to women at Metropolitan Police department ‘ City of Cape Town.
b) To ascertain and assess the ways in which women have been empowered educationally and politically at Metropolitan Police department ‘ City of Cape Town.
c) To identify the areas which Metropolitan Police department women have participated in political and educational development processes
d) To identify the factors in which may influence Metropolitan Police Department women’s full participation in the empowerment and development processes.
e) To determine the relationship between Metropolitan Police department women’s educational qualification and their participation in development processes
4.2 Secondary objectives
a) Encouraging adequate respect and support for human rights and non-discrimination and on consequence treating men and women equally at workplace
b) Making sure that all men and women workers are provided with equal facilities in terms of their overall welfare and safety at workplaces
c) Educating women according to the professional requirement and encourage them to grow further in life.
d) Encouraging the promotion of gender equality within the Department
e) Encouraging women to develop their skills, which in turn, would make them self-dependent
f) Proper measurement and letting staff know of the achievement of gender equality
5. LITERATURE REVIEW
The study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, this study will add to the body of knowledge on the levels of women’s empowerment at the Metropolitan Police Department. It will throw more light on the literature with regard to the role of empowerment on women’s participation in developmental processes and the factors that limit women’s empowerment and participation in development processes. It will be of great help to students and researchers who may want to investigate issues relating to women. Practically, this work will produce information, which will enhance the understanding of major factors that hinder women empowerment and participation in developmental process and the best strategies for eliminating the constraints. Based on this, Metropolitan Police department would be able to mount effective policies and empowerment programmes that would be beneficial to women and in the department.
6. RESEARCH DESIGN/METHODOLOGY
6.1 Research design
The proposed research will be conducted by means of interviewing individuals who form part of
the sample. The researcher will make use of purposive or judgement sampling as only
employees with first-hand knowledge and experience will be interviewed to obtain their opinions
and inputs relating to women empowerment and development within the Department of
Metropolitan Police.
6.2 Research Approach
The researcher will make use of qualitative approach as selected individuals with first-hand knowledge and experience of managing women’s development and empowerment will be interviewed
6.3 Unit of analysis
The unit of analysis in the proposed research will be senior employees from various sections
of Metropolitan Police department.
6.4 Identification of variables
Variables are qualities, properties, or characteristics of person, things, or situations that changes. Independent and dependent variables: these are two variables which are interrelated and mainly observed in correlational, interventional, pre- experimental, would-be- experimental, and experimental research studies. An independent variable: is an activity that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to create the effect on the dependent variable. A dependent variable: is the outcome or response due to the effect of the independent variables, which researcher wants to predict or explain.
6.4 Target Group/Population
This Research will be focusing on women empowerment and development of women within Metropolitan Police department especially uniform members as they always seem to be undermined when it comes to performing their functions, and that makes it difficult for them to get promotional positions. In this study the population is Metropolitan Police women of all races, age groups, educational status, political status who requested empowerment and development during the year 2001 to 2017.
6.5 Sample and sample type
The researcher will make use purposive or judgement sampling as only employees with first-hand knowledge and experience will be interviewed to obtain their opinions and inputs relating to women empowerment and development of women within the department.
As the researcher will make use of purposive sampling, the sample which will be utilised in the proposed research will consist of 6 individuals representing different disciplines within the Metropolitan Police department who have experience in the managing of women empowerment.
These managers are all managers of their respective sections and will be able to give useful and informative inputs.
The sample members will be as follows:
6.5.1 Head: Resource Planning and Administration
6.5.2 Departmental Support Services Manager
6.5.3 Deputy Police Chief
6.5.4 Human Resource Business Partner
6.5.5 General Administration: Administrative Officer 3
6.5.6 Senior Superintendent
6.6 Data collection methods
One on one interview will be conducted with the aid of an interview schedule, with each individual forming part of the sample to collect data. As mentioned in the previously, only individuals with extensive knowledge, understanding and experience relating to women empowerment and development of women will be part of the study.
The internet will be utilised to collect data from previous research done, articles as well as manuals.
6.7 Data analysis
The data collected through the interviews will be analysed by looking for trends and patterns that reappear in responses. The basis for analysis of data will be the notes by the researcher. The grounded theory method will be utilised as it has the potential to lead to the creation of theories which could in turn lead to the improvement of policy relating to women empowerment and development of women.
6.8 Measures to ensure reliability and validity
Validity is defined as a measure of truth or falsity of the data obtained through using the research instrument. It is classified as internal and external validity of the measuring instrument (Burns & Grove 2001:226). In this study validity refers to the lack of women empowerment and women development within Metropolitan Police. Reliability is the degree of consistency with which the instrument measures an attribute (Polit & Hungler 1999:255). There is also a relationship between reliability and validity. In ensuring reliability in this study the responses obtained through the interview schedule will be split into two equal halves, and then scored independently to check connection.
6.10 Ethical guidelines
The proposed research will be conducted in accordance with the ethical procedures and guidelines attached to the department involved. Permission to conduct the proposed research has been obtained from the Head: Resource Planning and Administration involved in the study.
Questions contained in the interviews have been approved by the above mentioned Head: Resource Planning and Administration.