Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Gaunce, Rachel
Language:	English
Published:	Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK 2018
Subjects:	African Studies Environmental Studies Gender Theater Theatre Theatre for Development Theatre of the Oppressed Applied Theatre Sanitation Kenya East Africa Informal Settlements Development
Online Access:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1524844274577085

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spelling	ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ouhonors15248442745770852021-08-03T07:06:36Z Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum Gaunce, Rachel African Studies Environmental Studies Gender Theater Theatre Theatre for Development Theatre of the Oppressed Applied Theatre Environmental Studies Sanitation Kenya East Africa Informal Settlements Development Gender This paper explores Theatre for Development (TfD) as a research and development tool through a case study conducted in the Mathare slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Mathare is densely populated, with over half-a-million people in one square kilometer. Sanitation and water systems are poorly constructed and often controlled by cartels. This leads to health and security issues that disproportionately affect women. Development initiatives that aim to address these issues often ignore the role that community members play in development. TfD, as I modify it for this project, is an adaptation of Augusto Boal’s forum theatre that generates community-led solutions to specific development issues. Using TfD, I rely on stakeholder participation to pursue a holistic research methodology that informs initiatives aimed at improving sanitation challenges. My research seeks to answer two questions: What information surfaces as a result of creating a TfD workshop in Mathare? And how does TfD succeed and fail as a methodology applied in Mathare? I present the data collected through the process of developing the workshop, conducting the workshop, and participant feedback. The data show that the practice of TfD in Mathare generates nuanced information on limitations to sanitation, and illustrates how gendered limitations restrict women’s ability to make choices about their own sanitation. The data also show that TfD is useful in empowering participants to guide community dialogue around issues and ways of addressing them, and clarifying areas of misinterpretation. However, challenges can arise with budgeting time and negotiating a language barrier. Overall, I will show that TfD is a research and development tool that empowers stakeholders in the process of information collection, and allows them to invest directly and specifically in the desired outcomes. 2018-07-13 English text Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1524844274577085 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1524844274577085 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection	NDLTD
language	English
sources	NDLTD
topic	African Studies Environmental Studies Gender Theater Theatre Theatre for Development Theatre of the Oppressed Applied Theatre Environmental Studies Sanitation Kenya East Africa Informal Settlements Development Gender
spellingShingle	African Studies Environmental Studies Gender Theater Theatre Theatre for Development Theatre of the Oppressed Applied Theatre Environmental Studies Sanitation Kenya East Africa Informal Settlements Development Gender Gaunce, Rachel Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum
author	Gaunce, Rachel
author_facet	Gaunce, Rachel
author_sort	Gaunce, Rachel
title	Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum
title_short	Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum
title_full	Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum
title_fullStr	Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum
title_full_unstemmed	Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum
title_sort	seeking alternative research and development methods through theatre: a case study on sanitation issues affecting women in the mathare slum
publisher	Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK
publishDate	2018
url	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1524844274577085
work_keys_str_mv	AT gauncerachel seekingalternativeresearchanddevelopmentmethodsthroughtheatreacasestudyonsanitationissuesaffectingwomeninthemathareslum
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Seeking Alternative Research and Development Methods Through Theatre: A Case Study on Sanitation Issues Affecting Women in the Mathare Slum

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