Do home-based micro-entrepreneurial earnings empower rural women? Evidence from the handloom sector in Assam. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hazarika, Bhabesh; Goswami, Kishor
• Is Part Of: Asian journal of women's studies. Volume 22:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 289
• Page End: 317
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: home-based activities -- women's empowerment -- male preference -- domestic violence -- handloom -- Assam; Feminism -- Asia -- Periodicals; Women -- Asia -- Periodicals; Feminism -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 305.4209505
• DOI: 10.1080/12259276.2016.1205376
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1225-9276

Abstract

Abstract : Access to income through home-based activities is important for empowering disadvantaged groups of society, especially women. The present paper seeks to analyze the extent of empowerment of women engaged in the handloom sector in Assam in North Eastern India. Our study refines five empowerment indicators of economic, social, and cultural relevance, such as decision-making ability, freedom of movement, ownership of assets and income, male preference, and domestic violence. This is based on primary survey data collected from 328 married women from six districts of Assam to examine how engagement in handloom activities empowers them. Results indicate the existence of spatial variations as well as gaps in women's empowerment. The parsimonious regression results show that age, educational attainment, income from handloom activities, and government support have had positive influences. Engagement in the handloom activities improves intra-household power relations significantly in favor of women and thereby reduces preference for males and domestic violence. The study urges that there should be better policies to facilitate women in accessing productive resources, especially financial ones. Micro-finance institutions can be encouraged to promote women's active participation in home-based activities, which in turn should improve the overall empowerment of women.