Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hernandez, Sarah

Keywords

Microfinance, India, International Development

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies

Abstract

Using a case study from rural Rajasthan, India, this research examines the impact of women's involvement in microfinance self-help groups on their economic status and social empowerment. Microfinance � a financial service, small in size, provided by financial institutions to the poor � has garnered immense popularity as a strategy to empower and lift out of poverty low-income women in developing countries. However, there is disagreement as to whether microfinance programs achieve these dual aims. Although microfinance garners international acclamation, there has been neither widespread proof of its effectiveness nor many studies of its implementation on the ground. Thus, the knowledge gained from this field research helps inform the model of microfinance programs for women by illuminating what aspects of the self-help group model have and have not been effective in terms of poverty alleviation and women's empowerment. Conclusions from this study are made from content analysis of interviews with twenty-four women participating in microfinance self-help groups and the researcher's observations of how the NGO's approach impacted the program. Findings indicate that the women's participation did not cause them to make more money, but did allow them to accrue savings that they valued. Most women did not experience social empowerment from their participation. An analysis of this program's successes and pitfalls indicates broadly if and how women's microfinance programs can be better designed and implemented.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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