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The IUP Journal of Organizational Behavior

Role of Experiential Knowledge in Women's Empowerment Through Self-Help Groups: An SEM Analysis in Jammu & Kashmir

Article Details

Pub. Date	: October, 2023
Product Name	: The IUP Journal of Organizational Behavior
Product Type	: Article
Product Code	: IJOB100123
Author Name	: John Mohammad Paray
Availability	: YES
Subject/Domain	: Arts & Humanities
Download Format	: PDF Format
No. of Pages	: 21

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Abstract

Increasing women's empowerment through self-help group (SHG) initiatives is one of the widely preferred programs in India. The impact of SHGs on women's lives has been the subject of numerous studies, but no complete assessment has yet taken place, particularly in addressing the multidimensional aspects of empowerment. This study assumes that group members' experience and knowledge play a moderating role in the linkage between women's empowerment and their involvement in SHGs. However, the primary rationale of this work is to evaluate the impact of women's involvement in SHGs on their empowerment. The study used a quantitative design, including 267 (functional) questionnaires. A survey was done to gather data from women members of different SHGs in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Regression analysis showed that women's participation in SHGs influences all four dimensions of women empowerment, viz., economic, social, psychological, and political.

Introduction

Research shows that women's equality in the workplace, healthcare, and democratic freedom have improved, but some structural and social obstacles remain (Sen, 2001; Duflo, 2012; and Cohen and Karim, 2022). About half of the world's underprivileged live in South Asia, according to the 2019 Human Development Report, and 70% of low-income people are women (Kotte, 2019). The scenario has been even more imperfect for rural women over the previous two decades (Kotte, 2019; and Zulfiqar, 2022). Therefore, women empowerment is essential on multiple fronts to improve their conditions (Nayak and Panigrahi, 2020; and Rodriguez, 2022). Economic development and empowerment have a tenuous connection (Duflo, 2012) that is unlikely to hold over time. In addition, other domains of empowerment, such as social, political and economic, are also inherently vital (Brody et al., 2017). It is critical to support legislation and initiatives aimed at achieving gender parity and women empowerment (Jakimow and Kilby, 2006). Many developing countries use programs like Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to give women more economic independence and empowerment, especially in South Asia, including India (Sato et al., 2022).