Determinants of Women Empowerment as Measured by Domestic Decision-Making: Perspective from a Developing Economy

Abstract

The study finds the determinants of women empowerment measured in terms of domestic decision-making in a developing economy perspective by considering rural women in India. Women empowerment simply means giving opportunities to women to enable them to be socially and financially independent. Empowerment of women through investment in their education and health has a positive effect on economic growth. Almost 70% of Indian population lives in rural areas. If women in these areas are educated and empowered, they can contribute to the economic growth either directly or indirectly by improving health and education of the future generations. This study indicates that an employed woman, having her own income source, higher educational level, knowledge of legal rights, higher educational level of the mother of the woman, having property in her own name, more freedom of movement during her school days, having high self-esteem and belonging to a relatively affluent background, increases domestic making power of the women, and thus empowerment. Some possible policies are suggested for developing economies.

Citation

Banerjee, S., Alok, S. and George, B. (2020), "Determinants of Women Empowerment as Measured by Domestic Decision-Making: Perspective from a Developing Economy", Barnett, W.A. and Sergi, B.S. (Ed.) Advanced Issues in the Economics of Emerging Markets (International Symposia in Economic Theory and Econometrics, Vol. 27), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1571-038620200000027001