A narrative inquiry study on the life histories of South Sudanese women: Understanding women’s educational experiences as part of a donor-funded scholarship program

This dissertation study utilizes life history interviews with five South Sudanese women recipients of donor-funded scholarships to pursue graduate studies in the United States in order to understand how they frame their educational experiences within the broader context of their life stories. The research attempts to capture the transformative effect that education can have on the lives of women and also identify specific elements of donor-funded higher education programs that can either help or hinder the empowerment of participants. Specifically, this research asks: 1) How did the participants’ prior backgrounds and experiences influence their desire and ability to participate in this program?; 2) What impact has participation in the program had on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes/dispositions of the women?; and 3) What barriers (cultural, societal, or within the program design and implementation) continue to impact the lives and career trajectories of the women? Through the use of narrative inquiry, the study presents narratives of the lived experiences of five women alumni of the South Sudan Higher Education Initiative for Leadership Development (SSHIELD) program from early life, through their degree program, and upon their return to South Sudan. The study identifies seven crosscutting themes that emerged from the interviews: the role of families in educational experiences; experiences of displacement and conflict; economic concerns; elements of the design of the program that women found helpful or challenging; gender roles and discrimination in South Sudan; the involvement of international development actors; and the impact of the SSHIELD program on participants. Findings inform suggestions for policy, practice, and future research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Benitez, Arlene

Contributors dc:contributor

• Davila, Liv T.
• Dhillon, Pradeep
• Goodnight, Melissa
• Mason, Terrence C.

• South Sudan
• International Development
• Gender
• Higher Education

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Arlene Benitez

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115334

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115334