| Women’s participation in self-help groups as
a pathway to women’s empowerment: A case of Nepal |
| Authors: |
Madhu Sudhan Atteraya, Shreejana Gnawali, and Elizabeth Palley |
| Source: |
International Journal of Social Welfare, 25: 321–330; DOI: 10.1111/ijsw.12212B |
| Topic(s): |
Women’s empowerment
|
| Country: |
Asia
Nepal
|
| Published: |
AUG 2016 |
| Abstract: |
Atteraya M.S., Gnawali S., Palley E. Women’s participation
in self-help groups as a pathway to women’s empowerment:
A case of Nepal
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the government
of Nepal have made some effort to reduce poverty in Nepal by
creating women’s affiliation groups, some of which are microcredit
organizations. Using capabilities as defined by Amartya
Sen (Development as freedom, Oxford University Press, New
Delhi, 2000), which includes employment opportunities,
women’s ownership in productive resources such as land and/or
homes, educational opportunities, and women’s participation in
decision-making in the family, this study evaluated the extent to
which women’s ethnic group or caste affiliation affected a
woman’s likelihood of being empowered by participation in
these groups.We analyzed a sample of 8,973 women which was
taken from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey.
Previous research has demonstrated that participation in genderbased
groups is correlated with higher economic status. This
study adds to the literature on women’s affiliation groups by
investigating the impact of structural factors, such as caste and
ethnicity, on women’s self-help group participation (women’s
groups and credit groups).x |
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