“Women empowering women”: informal leadership education on becoming “eco-heroines” in solid waste management

• Main Authors: Abd. Rokis, Rohaiza, Silaturrahmi, Putri, Jalaludin, Nadiah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scientific Research Publishing 2022
• Subjects: HM1106 Interpersonal relations. Social behavior; HM711 Groups and organizations
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/103275/2/103275_Women%20empowering%20women.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/103275/; https://www.scirp.org/pdf/ce_2022071415565920.pdf

Introduction: Environmental sustainability has reached considerable awareness among individuals and organisations in some parts of the world. Malaysia and Indonesia also share the same response toward the betterment of the socio-ecological environment. Women’s empowerment through the management of solid wastes received reasonably good interest from women themselves. Objective: The article attempts to inform the readers about the virtuous women’s leadership roles to empower womankind to sustain their socioecological maintenance. It is the real-life experience of the peasants who turn out to be recyclers and repurposers in two Southeast Asian cities—Kuala Terengganu and Jakarta. Methodology: This article is based on an ethnographic study through the eyes and lives of women who directly engage in “something good” for their socio-ecological surroundings, and consequently, get benefits from this informal, lifelong education. This research project uti- lises methods of one-to-one, in-depth interviews and observation. Find- ings: It indicates that women empowering efforts and leadership encourage them to become effective members of their local communities. They are the “eco-heroines” who empower their women folks through recycling and repurposing solid wastes, particularly household-based ones. Significance: The article elaborates on the crucial roles of women’s empowering efforts and their participation in a decision-making process that benefits humanity. The direct consequence is that their efforts produced profound benefits through the elimination of poverty and the improvement of livelihood.