Women's Economic Independence Research Articles

Women's Economic Transformation: A Literature Review on Empowerment through Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion in Pekalongan, Indonesia

This systematic literature review (SLR) explores factors influencing women's empowerment through entrepreneurship and financial inclusion in Pekalongan. Key elements supporting or hindering women entrepreneurs include access to capital, entrepreneurship education, training, and robust support networks. Financial inclusion, encompassing banking services, microcredit, and financial education, is crucial for enhancing women's economic capacity and independence. The research employs a structured SLR methodology, using databases like Scopus to identify relevant studies from the past decade. The data collection involves keyword identification, literature search, screening, full-text review, and data extraction, followed by thematic analysis and coding. The findings reveal that well-designed government and NGO programs significantly impact women's economic and social well-being, with success dependent on local context and sustained support. Policy recommendations for Pekalongan include increasing access to financial services through microcredit and entrepreneurship training, expanding financial education programs, strengthening support networks via women's business groups and mentoring, and addressing socio-cultural barriers. Tailored policies and programs that consider the local context are essential for effective implementation. This study's comprehensive approach, combining women's entrepreneurship and financial inclusion within Pekalongan's context, provides practical recommendations for policymakers and enriches existing literature, offering a framework for future research and policy development in similar socio-economic settings.

Empowerment of Former Women Migrant Workers Based on Social Capital and Local Economic Potential

This article discusses efforts to empower women former migrant workers through an approach based on social capital and local economic potential. This research aims to identify effective empowerment strategies for women who have returned from working abroad, by utilizing their social networks and the economic resources available in their areas of origin. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection through in-depth interviews, participatory observation and documentation. The research results show that social capital, such as individual and community networks, trust, and social norms, plays an important role in facilitating the process of reintegration and economic empowerment. In addition, utilizing local economic potential, such as micro and small businesses, agriculture and handicrafts, has been proven to make a significant contribution in improving the welfare and economic independence of women who are post-migrant workers. This article concludes that integrating social capital with local economic potential is an effective and sustainable strategy for empowering women as migrant workers.

Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development in India

Purpose: Working women are thriving and rising to prominence in the economy and business environment. Today's women make significant contributions to society's development. Theoretical framework: An empowered woman has more control over her life and her finances. Women's economic independence and self-sufficiency can be greatly aided by training them in the art of entrepreneurship. Growth in business entrepreneurship has the potential to improve women's financial, societal, personal, as well as political standing. Design/methodology/approach: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between female entrepreneurship and women's empowerment in the Chittoor district. Participants are 300 female entrepreneurs from both urban and rural areas. The researcher analyses the issues and difficulties women entrepreneurs experience in operating their enterprises, as well as the supportive elements for women business owners. Findings: Women's empowerment and female entrepreneurship are positively correlated. The majority of female business owners, whether in urban and rural areas, struggle with financial issues and job pressure. Governmental programmes and policies support female entrepreneurs by giving them training, funding, and marketing help. Research, Practical & Social implications: The entrepreneur alters the conditions of supply, combines already-existing resources in novel ways, and therefore establishes another generation of employment. Originality/value: Women's conditions are improved by entrepreneurship, which also helps them become fully involved in the growth and development of their country. This is one of the first studies to provide a detailed account of the women's entrepreneurship research in Chittoor, India.

Reflection of gender divisions and feminine consciousness in Caryl Churchill’s ‘Owners’

The purpose of this article is to examine Caryl Churchill's play ‘Owners’ through the lens of feminism. The play was created mostly in response to the ideas of the feminist movement of the 1960s - 1970s, which examines many of the similar themes. As one of the most influential feminists of her day, Simone de Beauvoir's opinions on women are discussed in relation to the play. Churchill places strong female characters front and centre and explores male power from several angles. In addition to in depth discussions on the previously mentioned aspects, the present research study covers a brief overview of contemporary feminism overall. It also questions the effects of patriarchy and the socially defined positions of women in Churchill's ‘Owners’. As a consequence, it becomes clear that the dramatist highlights and displays the issues facing women of her day while also highlighting the significance of women's economic and emotional independence.

A Critical Examination of Women's Economic Independence

This paper delves into the critical examination of women's economic independence, underscoring its significance in promoting gender equality and enhancing societal economic health. The rationale for this examination stems from the persisting gender disparities in economic spheres globally, despite considerable progress in recent decades. Economic independence is pivotal for women's empowerment, offering them autonomy in decision-making processes and facilitating their contribution to economic development. The methodology encompasses approach that enables a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted barriers to and enablers for women's economic independence. Key findings reveal that while educational attainment and workforce participation have increased for women, significant obstacles remain. These include the gender wage gap, socio-cultural norms, and inadequate legal protections, which collectively hinder women's economic advancement. The conclusion emphasizes that enhancing women's economic independence is not only a matter of gender equality but also a crucial component of economic sustainability. It argues for a concerted effort from governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to implement comprehensive strategies that address both the economic and cultural dimensions of women's independence.

Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development in India

Purpose: Working women are thriving and rising to prominence in the economy and business environment. Today's women make significant contributions to society's development. Theoretical framework: An empowered woman has more control over her life and her finances. Women's economic independence and self-sufficiency can be greatly aided by training them in the art of entrepreneurship. Growth in business entrepreneurship has the potential to improve women's financial, societal, personal, as well as political standing. Design/methodology/approach: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between female entrepreneurship and women's empowerment in the Chittoor district. Participants are 300 female entrepreneurs from both urban and rural areas. The researcher analyses the issues and difficulties women entrepreneurs experience in operating their enterprises, as well as the supportive elements for women business owners. Findings: Women's empowerment and female entrepreneurship are positively correlated. The majority of female business owners, whether in urban and rural areas, struggle with financial issues and job pressure. Governmental programmes and policies support female entrepreneurs by giving them training, funding, and marketing help. Research, Practical & Social implications: The entrepreneur alters the conditions of supply, combines already-existing resources in novel ways, and therefore establishes another generation of employment. Originality/value: Women's conditions are improved by entrepreneurship, which also helps them become fully involved in the growth and development of their country. This is one of the first studies to provide a detailed account of the women's entrepreneurship research in Chittoor, India.

Financial Literacy among Women: An Analysis of the Etikoppaka Toy Industry

Numerous scholarly works have thoroughly investigated the disparity in financial risk-taking between genders. It has been observed that women exhibit a lower propensity to invest in high-risk financial assets, which can be attributed to their relatively slower accumulation of wealth over an extended period of time. It aims to understand how financial literacy can enhance women's economic empowerment and independence. The research delves into the imperative need for financial literacy among women in the two-centuries-old Etikoppaka handloom industry. It explores their socio-economic transition within the internationally acclaimed toy industry of Etikoppaka in India. The study focuses on the Etikoppaka handloom industry, comprising two categories of women: formal employees earning wages and informal workers supporting their husbands without monetary compensation. An exploratory research design was applied to arrive at the inferences. Data is collected from 40 females actively engaged in the toy industry, supplemented by two focus group discussions with stakeholders. The data was analyzed using two financial models, i.e., Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2011 (OECD) basic principles of money. Financial literacy is crucial for women's empowerment in the Etikoppaka handloom industry. Formal sector women have better understanding of financial concepts than informal sector women. Customized programs that consider local culture and involvement of civil society organizations and grassroots initiatives are necessary for positive economic outcomes. This study's outcomes have significant implications for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations working towards women's economic development in the handloom industry.

Economic independence and living arrangements of older women with agricultural Hukou in China

This study estimates the economic independence (EI) of older Chinese women with agricultural hukou and examines the relationship between their EI and living arrangements. Using the concept of happiness, the study explains the driving forces of the relationship between these women's EI and living arrangements and summarizes the effects of husbands, children, and grandchildren in terms of the economic substitution effect, economic gravitational effect, and non-economic gravitational effect. Older women's EI is very low, and their average pension income is only 21% of the local average consumption. There is a negative relationship between their EI and the probability of living with their children. Older women with no financial constraints are more likely to live on their own or apart from their children. Happiness drops significantly when older women live with their lower-income children. The substitution effect of a husband's income not only reduces the overall probability of the female elderly living with their children but also reduces the marginal effect of the female elderly's EI on that probability. When older women have low personal EI or poor health, and their children have high incomes, they tend to live with their relatively higher-income children. Grandchildren aged 0–5 generally increase the probability of elderly women living with their children. Common prosperity in China requires enhancing the developmental capacity of all people. Improving the happiness and life quality of the rural female elderly must be approached from two perspectives: from the perspective of the elderly, to increase pension income and improve the actual effect of the social pension service; and from the perspective of children, to ensure their stable employment and income growth and reduce their child-care burdens (both financial and caring) in various ways.

Pilihan Rasional Perempuan Entrepreneur dalam Gugat Cerai di Kota Batam

Divorce suit is a claim of rights to court filed by a wife to divorce from her husband. The divorce is triggered by several factors, one of which dominates is the problem of conflicting disputes continuously, while the rest of the economic factors. The independence of women in the economy is assumed to be a trigger for divorce decisions. Where this condition is a woman who has higher income than her husband and the woman feel enough to have day-to-day needs. This is the basis for the view of women's economic independence will allow women to choose divorce as a rational action in resolving the marital crisis. This study aims to determine the entrepreneur women in divorce suit where until now women who dominate can sue for divorce. The theory that the researcher uses is the theory of rational choice in which an action has an achievement or goal of the decision taken. This study uses qualitative research. Technique to determine the informant by using purposive sampling. The result of this study findings is awareness in terms of how women entrepreneurs can decide a divorce suit decision. Women also have reasons to divorce, one of which is financial ability, educational ability, the ability to educate children, and the ability to deal with social life.

How vulnerable are they? Women amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: From ancient times Indian women tend to adopt contradictory roles. Women are empowered to ensure that they effectively play the roles of nurturance as mothers, daughters, and wives. On contrary, the weak and helpless women are portrayed to ensure they depend on the male sex. Women are dependent, weak, exploited, and faces gender discrimination in every sphere of their life. The gender-based violence that threatens the well-being, dignity, and rights of women extends across all boundaries of social, cultural, and economic standards. Violence against women is on the national agenda. Increased incidents and evidence show that the policy of isolation and confinement because of COVID-19 leads to more domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and there is a need for protection against this. Attention needs to be provided to handle the long-term effects of the pandemic to balance the professional and personal lives of women's economic independence. there is an urgent need for Government to make frantic efforts to find solutions. Keywords: Women, COVID-19, Pandemic, Violence

A Study of Societal Progression on Women’s Economic Independence in India

This study examines the relationship between women's economic independence and societal progression using various indicators such as, currently married women who usually participate in household decisions, women who worked in the last 12 months, women owning a house and/or land (alone or jointly with others), women with a bank account as indicators of women economic independence and for socio-economic parameters the study has considered women who are literate, state-wise maternal mortality ratio, sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years. Data was extracted from India for the years 2016 and 2021 using the National Family Health Survey's (NFHS) reports. Extraction of data was carried out using the National Family Health Survey's (NFHS) reports and Handbook of Statistics on Indian States. The multiple linear regression model is included for each year to examine and assess the relationship between response and explanatory factors for both years. The study indicated that different causes have varying effects on markers of societal advancement. All three dependent variables of women's economic independence are negatively impacted by factors like women's decision-making ability, whereas they are positively impacted by factors like women having bank accounts and home ownership.

Gender Wage Gap in the Former Soviet Union: Evidence from EBRD Data

This research article examines gender inequality in employment in the former Soviet Union based on data collected by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with the third wave of the “Life in Transition” Survey conducted in 2016. Despite numerous efforts, the wage gap between women and men is still an important problem in many countries of the world, and especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union. It is worth noting that this wage gap affects the economic and social spheres of life, human rights, and dramatically affects women's economic independence. Several articles have been analyzed that identify various factors influencing the problem of wage inequality between men and women in the former Soviet Union. Next section identifies results and discussions of the pay gap using several figures. Each figure shows the wage gap between men and women in the former Soviet Union, the rate of return to school between men and women, statistics for the highest- and lowest-paid sectors of the economy, representation of female workers, and so on. As a result, countries where gender differences have a positive or negative impact on the labor market to this day are highlighted. Based on the conducted research, some country-specific policy applications are concluded at the end.

Uptake and Utilisation of the Constituency Women Enterprise Scheme (C-WES) Fund among Women Beneficiaries in Nyamira County- Kenya

Globally, women's economic empowerment has been identified as a prerequisite to enhancing their economic development participation. It accelerates economic development and improves women's economic independence by creating job opportunities. Additionally, their social, educational and health standards both at the individual and family level improve. The government of Kenya introduced the women Enterprise Fund to empower women economically through the provision of credit and business support services. However, Women Enterprise Fund has experienced challenges in its extension of services. One of the major challenges is the high default rate among the fund beneficiaries accessing loans through Constituency Women Enterprise Scheme. The high default rate has impacted heavily on the sustainability of the fund. Therefore, this study sought to assess determinants of uptake and utilisation of loan Constituency Women Enterprise Scheme fund among women in Nyamira County. The objectives of the study were: To establish factors that determine the uptake of C-WES funds, examine determinants in the utilisation of C-WES funds, examine challenges related to the uptake and utilisation of C-WES funds and suggest gender-responsive strategies that would ensure effective utilisation of C-WES and improved repayment performance. The liberal feminist and joint liability theories guided the study. Naisurma's (2000) model was used to determine a sample size of 95 respondents who were further selected by systematic random sampling. Further, data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules; and was analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, and presented in the form of graphs, charts, and tables. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (Version 17.0). Findings from the study revealed that women were still interested in group loans. However, respondents identified loan size, lack of supervision, group conflicts as contributing factors to the uptake and utilisation of loan repayment. Loan diversion was also established among borrowers.

The Importance of Microfinance Institutions in the Development of Developing Countries

This study intends to provide light on the favourable benefits of microfinance on a variety of social and economic outcomes, such as poverty reduction, job creation, economic independence for women, and long-term societal advancement. By enhancing the availability of financial and non-financial services to MSEs, we can increase their impact on the national economy. Microcredit programmes administered by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have effectively reduced poverty in developing nations by providing loans with low-interest rates and minimal requirements for collateral. This study’s methodology is based on a discussion and a review of prior research. However, the study’s primary finding demonstrates that microfinance is critically essential. However, it confronts other obstacles that could restrict its contribution to long-term growth and monetary inclusion.

GOVERNMENTAL AND INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS FOR THE ATTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF E-COMMERCE BY WOMEN IN BANGLADESH

This research investigates the initiatives and actions taken by the Government of Bangladesh and institutions to attract women into e-commerce and introduce these women as financially independent. The existence and power of women in Bangladesh are very weak, and this is due to dependency, lack of education, and skills. To remove these obstacles and empower women through e-commerce, the Government and different institutions are taking various initiatives and actions as they can contribute to the development of Bangladesh. This study evaluates how Government and other institutions are working to introduce e-commerce as a strong tool for women's economic independence in Bangladesh. The Government is taking action to provide direct funds, introducing simple policies, tax exemptions, easy business space, transportation assistance, and many other ways. Different organizations are also working to assist the Government of Bangladesh in empowering women through e-commerce. The policy recommendations could be helpful for The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to mitigate its challenges and make this sector more profitable.

EFFORTS BY WOMEN TO BECOME FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT THROUGH E-COMMERCE DURING COVID-19: A STUDY ON BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

This research investigates the efforts taken by the women for introducing themselves as financially independent through e-commerce from the perspective of Bangladesh. After the outbreak of COVID-19, women of Bangladesh suffered a lot in case of – loss of jobs, lower wages, lower educational support, lower access to information, and deterioration of mental health due to depression and anxiety. At this bad time, e-commerce has shown women a new way of survival and gained economic independence. This study is for evaluating how e-commerce becomes a strong tool for women's economic independence during the period of this pandemic. Though there are some obstacles, e-commerce is opening the door to women’s success. Bangladesh is a developing country where most people think that the only duty of women is cooking and looking after children but e-commerce is giving the opportunity to the women to work at home and become financially independent. The policy recommendations for encouraging women in e-commerce and mitigating their challenges could be helpful for The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in making this sector more profitable.

Pragmatist Feminist Utopias: Gilman, Mead, and the Problem of Choice

AbstractThis article focuses on the pragmatist feminist theories of social reformer Charlotte Perkins Gilman and cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead. It begins by delineating Gilman's understanding of how the material-cultural environment affects the lives of women. Believing the American way of life to be too individualistic, Gilman developed a theory of social change aimed at generating more collectivist ways of living and promoting the economic independence of women. To achieve these ends, Gilman advocated for the reconstruction of the Victorian nursery, which she believed would afford women the choice to pursue a professional career outside of the home, and promote the health of the community. Gilman's social theory is contrasted with that of Margaret Mead, who believed that plans for social reform are best left to readers. Rather than advocate for the adoption of an entirely new cultural practice, Mead sought to acquaint her culturally diverse American readership with the Samoan way of life, so that they might collectively decide how to best address the problem of choice facing young women in the 1920s.

Analytical Study on Relationship Between Shg and Poverty Alleviation

Microfinance is showing great promise as a means of combating poverty in India. Although making significant contributions to the home and national economies, women's work is often undervalued or ignored. The rapid growth of SHGs and the Bank linkage model have sparked a nationwide campaign to increase women's economic independence. Many empirical investigations have demonstrated that the members of SHGs have been able to better their socioeconomic situation thanks to microfinance provided via SHGs and the Bank linkage model. Moreover, it empowers women to make better financial decisions for their families and boosts their self-esteem. The questionnaire serves as the primary data collector, while non-parametric tests (such as the chi-square and analysis of variance) are used for analysis and presentation. Self-help Training of Swarozgaris, infrastructure development, marketing and technology support, member communication, member self-confidence, reduction in family violence, increase in outsider contact, monthly savings by SHG members, monthly savings by SHG members as a whole, political participation, social harmony, social justice, and community involvement are just some of the areas where groups have made a significant impact.

Can Sanctuary Polices Reduce Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence remains a serious public problem, especially in Hispanic communities, where one in three women are victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes. Yet, less than 50 percent of Hispanic women report the incidents, indicating lack of confidence in the police and fear they might be asked about their immigration status or that of relatives and friends as two main motives for not reporting. We examine the extent to which the adoption of sanctuary policies, which limit the cooperation of local law enforcement with federal immigration authorities, affect domestic homicide rates – a crime rarely unreported.We find that sanctuary policies lower domestic homicide rates among Hispanic women, but have no effect on white-non Hispanic women or men. The impact is particularly large in counties with higher immigration enforcement and in those with more female officers. On the other hand, sanctuary policies are less effective in counties withmandated arrest laws in place. These findings are suggestive of the important role of policies that increase community trust in the police in curtailing domestic violence, whether it is by promoting the early reporting of incidents, inhibiting potential offenders or increasing women's economic independence.

Awareness about Property Rights among Indian University Students

Economic independence of women is a major catalyst in achieving equality for women. In a developing country like India women are more culturally adapted and their property rights are still in dreams. There are supporting legal system for Indian women in case of property rights, however many a time’s women are not willing to utilize it because of fear of break of relationship. The present study attempts to study the knowledge of married educated women on matrimonial property rights in India. This shows that the respondents have minimum knowledge on property rights, even when they have knowledge the respondents are not ready to get their property from their relations because of the fear of break of relationships. On the other hand, the male counterparts are not ready to share their property with their sisters. This shows that legal system prevails in document form and in no way it helps women in grass root level.