The Role of Micro-Enterprises in the Four-Dimensional Framework of Women's Empowerment

Abstract

Purpose
 This paper empirically evaluates the impact of micro-enterprises on women's empowerment. Subsequently, it assesses the mediating role of the performance of micro-enterprises on a four-dimensional model of women's empowerment.
 Design/ Methodology/ Approach
 A quantitative research approach and a cross-sectional research design were adopted in the study. Survey research and purposive sampling technique were used to select 384 individual respondents (women entrepreneurs under the Kudumbashree Mission of Kerala state in India). The data gathered from a structured questionnaire was used for confirmatory factor analysis, model fit evaluation, and making a structural equation model to test the proposed relationship in the four-dimensional model of women's empowerment. The study explicates the relationship between attributes of micro-enterprises and women’s empowerment. The field data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS software.
 Findings
 Economic development will not happen unless women are empowered. In order to establish an enterprise more successfully and sustainably, women should be taught entrepreneurial skills, technical knowledge, skill training, and marketing skills. The study discovered a strong correlation between the performance of micro-enterprises and women empowerment attributes.
 Originality/value
 This study contributes to the literature by identifying how microentrepreneurs emerging from SHGs are achieving societal goals of women empowerment. It adds to the literature by providing a conceptual framework to aid researchers and policymakers in dealing with micro-enterprises and their impact on the empowerment of women in society.
 Research Limitation/ Implication
 Micro enterprises play an important role as they can contribute to women's empowerment by providing opportunities for employment. The study offers researchers and policymakers practical insights on how multi-facets of micro-enterprises influence different dimensions of women's empowerment. The study aids the government and policymakers in better understanding and implementing strategies to boost women’s micro-enterprises, resulting in the overall empowerment of marginalised women.
 Social Implications
 The study aims to create awareness among women about the various prospects for self-help groups, their intricacies, and the performance of micro-enterprises, thereby generating revenue. This, in turn, leads to the general economic development of a society.