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

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2022.v7i4.e539

Keywords:

Women empowerment, women entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises, Self-help Groups, Enterprise Performance

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.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agarwal, R. (2018). Role of Entrepreneurship in Promoting Women Empowerment in Northeastern Region of India. Amity Journal of Entrepreneurship, 3(2), 25–41.

Alemu, S. H., Van Kempen, L., & Ruben, R. (2018). Women empowerment through self-help groups: The bittersweet fruits of collective apple cultivation in highland Ethiopia. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 19(3), 308–330.

Anselme, A., & Qamruzzaman, M. (2022). Do access to finance, technical know-how and financial literacy offer Women empowerment through Women’s entrepreneurial Sustainability? Frontiers in Psychology, 5889. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.776844.

Arul Paramanandam, D., & Packirisamy, P. (2015). An empirical study on the impact of micro enterprises on women empowerment. Journal of Enterprising Communities, 9(4), 298–314. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-08-2014-0017

Arun, S., Heeks, R., & Morgan, S. (2006). Improved livelihoods and empowerment for poor women through IT sector intervention. Cinderella or Cyberella, 141–164.

Batliwala, S. (2007). Putting power back into empowerment. Democracy, 50, 3.

Brody, C., Hoop, T. de, Vojtkova, M., Warnock, R., Dunbar, M., Murthy, P., & Dworkin, S. L. (2017). Can self-help group programs improve women’s empowerment? A systematic review. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 9(1), 15–40.

Carmichael, T., & Mazonde, N. B. (2016). The influence of culture on female entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe. The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 8(1), 1–10.

Choudhury M. R; S. Hussain; R. K. Nath. (2020). WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH MICRO ENTERPRISES IN KARIMGANJ DISTRICT OF ASSAM. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 11(7), 39166–39168. https://doi.org/10.24327/IJRSR

Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques. John Wiley & Sons.

Duflo, E. (2012). Women Empowerment and Economic Development in Nepal. 50, 1051–1079.

Dutta, A. K. (2021). A Study Of Self - Help Group ( SHG ) based Micro Enterprises in Sikkim. International Journal Of Advance Research And Innovative Ideas In Education, 7(4). https://doi.org/16.0415/IJARIIE-15200

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: Algebra and statistics. Sage Publications Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA.

Goldman, M. J., & Little, J. S. (2015). Innovative grassroots NGOS and the complex processes of women’s empowerment: An empirical investigation from Northern Tanzania. World Development, 66, 762–777.

Gracelin, J. and Beulah, A. (2016). A study on problems faced by women entrepreneurs in Tuticorin District. SSRG International Journal of Economics and Management Studies, 34(5), 128–131.

Gupta, S.; Jain, S. K. and Singh, V. (2021). Determinants influencing the growth of MSMEs women entrepreneurs in India. Gorteria Journal, 34(5), 198–205.

Harika, K., Raviteja, K., & Nagaraju, V. (2020). Women empowerment through self-help groups (SHGs) in three dimensions: An empirical study of rural Andhra Pradesh. International Journal of Social Science, 9(4), 263–271.

Hulme, D., Mosley, P., Wood, G. D., & Sharif, I. A. (1997). Finance for the poor or poorest? Financial innovation, poverty and vulnerability. In Who needs credit? Poverty and finance in Bangladesh. Zed Books.

Husain, Z., Mukerjee, D., & Dutta, M. (2014). Self‐help groups and empowerment of women: self‐selection, or actual benefits? Journal of International Development, 26(4), 422–437.

Hussain, J., Ismail, K., & Akhtar, C. S. (2015). Arabian Journal of Business and Market Orientation and Organizational Performance : Case of Pakistani. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 5(5), 125–136.

IMF. (2018). Pursuing Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Imran, M. and Aiman, U. (2019). Women entrepreneurship and current scenario in India: an overview. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 6(6), 27–34.

Kabeer, N. (1999). Resources , Agency , Achievements : Re ¯ ections on the Measurement of Women ’ s Empowerment. 30(May), 435–464.

Kabeer, N. (2005). Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment. Gender and Development Vol., 13(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.11126/stanford/9780804759731.003.0004

Khamurduddin, Sk and Kalvakolanu, S. (2012). Role of micro, small and medium enterprises in women empowerment. 335–342. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4448678

Khobarkar, V., Ingole, D. N., & Nage, G. V. (2016). Performance of self-help groups in micro finance. Economic Affairs, 61(4), 609.

Khursheed, A., Khan, A. A., & Mustafa, F. (2021). Women’s social empowerment and microfinance: A brief review of literature. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 22(5), 249–265.

Kondal, K. (2014). Women empowerment through self-help groups in Andhra Pradesh, India. International Research Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1), 13–17.

Kudumbashree Mission report. (2022). https://www.kudumbashree.org/

Mahmud, S., Shah, N. M., & Becker, S. (2012). Measurement of women’s empowerment in rural Bangladesh. World Development, 40(3), 610–619.

Malhotra, A., & Mather, M. (1997). Do schooling and work empower women in developing countries? Gender and domestic decisions in Sri Lanka. Sociological Forum, 12(4), 599–630.

Mayoux, L. (2001). Tackling the down side: Social capital, women’s empowerment and micro-finance in Cameroon. Development and Change, 32(3), 435–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7660.00212

Muhammad, F., Bano, K., Muhammad, K., & Baig, T. (2021). Women empowerment in Pakistan: assessing the socio-economic determinants. Studies of Applied Economics, 39(3).

Murugesan, G. (2014). Problems and prospects of women entrepreneurs in India. Journal of Business Management and Social Sciences Research, 3(11), 12–15.

N.Amudha. (2010). A Study on Women Empowerment Through Self Help Groups in Salem District. 8(1707), 2010. http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in//handle/10603/17504

Nayak, A. K., & Panigrahi, P. K. (2020). Participation in Self-Help Groups and Empowerment of Women: A Structural Model Analysis. The Journal of Developing Areas, 54(1). https://doi.org/10.1353/jda.2020.0001

Nichlavose, P. R., & Jose, J. (2017). Impact of SHG initiatives on socio-economic status of members. Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, 7(6), 209–216.

OOMMEN, M. . A. . (2008). Micro finance and poverty alleviation: The case of Kerala’s Kudumbashree, Working Paper. In Centre for Socio-economic & Environmental Studies(CSES) (Issue 17).

Pharm, A., & Sritharan, R. (2013). Problems being faced by women entrepreneurs in rural areas. The International Journal of Engineering and Science (Ijes), 2(3), 52–55.

Pitt, M. M., Khandker, S. R., & Cartwright, J. (2006). Empowering women with micro finance: Evidence from Bangladesh. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 54(4), 791–831.

Rajapriya, M. (2008). Role of self-help group women in value base emancipation. Social Welfare, 55(6).

Sebastian, R., & P.K, M. (2020). Micro Enterprises and Women Empowerment : a Study With Reference To Kerala State in India. An International Bilingual Peer Reviewed Refereed Research Journal, 10(39), 165–173.

Shireesha, E. (2019). Empowerment of Women through Self-Help Groups. International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR), 4(12), 13–16.

Steiger, J. H. (2007). Understanding the limitations of global fit assessment in structural equation modeling. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(5), 893–898.

Subbarayudu, C. and Rao, C. S. (2021). Policies and schemes for women entrepreneurs in India. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 8(1), 213–225.

Sujisha, A. S. and Biju, T. (2019). Economic empowerment of women through micro enterprises promoted by Kudumbasree – a case study of Wayanad district. International Journal of Research and Analysis Reviews, 6(2), 199–213.

Swain, R. B., & Wallentin, F. Y. (2009). Does microfinance empower women? Evidence from self-help groups in India. International Review of Applied Economics, 23(5), 541–556. https://doi.org/10.1080/02692170903007540

Yadav, P. D., & Verma, A. (2015). Exploring the dimensions of women empowerment among microfinance beneficiaries in India: An empirical study in Delhi-NCR. Journal of Applied Management and Investments, 4(4), 260–270.

Zimmerman, M. A. (1990). Toward a theory of learned hopefulness: A structural model analysis of participation and empowerment. Journal of Research in Personality, 24(1), 71–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-6566(90)90007-S

Downloads

Published

2022-10-31

How to Cite

Jacob , J. ., & Munuswamy , S. . (2022). The Role of Micro-Enterprises in the Four-Dimensional Framework of Women’s Empowerment. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 7(4), e0539. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2022.v7i4.e539