BREAKING THE SILENCE: Community Radio, Women and Empowerment A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctorate in Education in the Faculty of Humanities 2019 Annette Rimmer School of Environment, Education and Development Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the support of: 12 wonderful radio volunteers and my supervisor, Professor Erica Burman. I am also extremely grateful for the encouragement, love and support of my friends and radio colleagues. Confidentiality All respondent’s names have been changed in this study and ‘Shout FM’ is a pseudonym Declaration of original contribution No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. I confirm that this study is compliant with the proposal I submitted and was given permission to undertake. Copyright Statement i. 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Here are the latest course details, which have changed a little since my enrolment in 2013 www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/programmes/list/00852/edd- education/ Table of Contents ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ 1 PART ONE - Provides an overview of the project, sets out the thesis aims, structure, and rationale. It contextualises the study, explains the nature and history of Community Radio and discusses concepts used to establish a framework for later discussion and analysis. ............................................................................................ 3 Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 4 a) A note on structure ....................................................................................................... 5 b) Meet the women – respondents and researcher ......................................................... 8 c) Rationale ....................................................................................................................... 9 d) Proceeding with caution ............................................................................................. 11 Chapter 2 Literature Review (Contexts) .......................................................................... 14 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 14 a) Setting the scene: the socio-political context of the study ........................................ 15 b) Women in Society and media. #metoo ...................................................................... 18 c) Community Radio, its history and potential ............................................................... 20 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 3 Literature Review (Concepts) ......................................................................... 30 Introduction, Underpinning theories and standpoint ........................................................ 30 a) Decolonising education – towards an understanding of feminist pedagogy ............. 33 b) The activism of critical feminist pedagogy .................................................................. 42 c) Silence, voice and the importance of participation .................................................... 46 d) Empowerment ............................................................................................................ 52 e) The importance of intersectionality ........................................................................... 56 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 59 PART TWO - explains the methodological approach underpinning the study, the research design and the practical methods used to generate material ..................... 60 Chapter 4 Methodology ................................................................................................. 61 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 61 a) Situating self ................................................................................................................ 63 b) Feminist Ethnography or just a feminist approach to research? ................................ 64 c) Ethical considerations ................................................................................................. 66 d) Intersectionality in research ....................................................................................... 68 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 72 Chapter 5 Methods ........................................................................................................ 74 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 74 a) Site of the research ..................................................................................................... 76 b) Research Design .......................................................................................................... 76 Access and sampling ........................................................................................................... 76 Meeting the respondents ................................................................................................... 78 Data Collection .................................................................................................................... 78 Research Diary .................................................................................................................... 81 Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 82 World Café .......................................................................................................................... 82 A cautionary note about participatory research ................................................................ 85 Additional contacts and #metoo ......................................................................................... 86 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 86 PART THREE - uses the established framework and headings to generate discussion and analysis with regard to the key themes of the title and aims. ............................ 88 Chapter 6 Analysis and Discussion: engagement and narratives ...................................... 89 Introduction: Structuring the Analysis and respondents’ details ....................................... 89 a) Engaging women in Community Radio training – despite everything. ....................... 91 b) Telling our story is important. ................................................................................... 101 Chapter 7 Analysis and Discussion: community radio as education and empowerment . 106 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 106 a) The Green Room - where it all happens ................................................................... 108 b) School wasn’t for me ...............................................................................................