Values Deliberation and Collective Action

This book describes how a program of values deliberations--sustained groupreflections on local values, aspirations, beliefs and experiences, blending with discussionsof how to understand and to realize human rights--led to individual and collectiveempowerment in communities in rural Senegal. The study explains what happens duringthe deliberations and shows how they bring about a larger process that results in improvedcapabilities in areas such as education, health, child protection, and gender equality. Itshows how participants, particularly women, enhance their agency, including theirindividual and collective capacities to play public roles and kindle community action. Itthus provides important insights on how values deliberations help to revise adverse gendernorms.