Rural credit programs and women's empowerment in Bangladesh
Hashemi, S.M.; Schuler, S.R.; Riley, A.P.
World Development Oxford 24(4): 635-653
1996
DOI: 10.1016/0305-750x(95)00159-aDocument Number: 330463
The paper presents findings from a study of Grameen Bank and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), two programmes that provide credit to poor rural women in Bangladesh. The programmes were found to have significant effects on eight different dimensions of women's empowerment: mobility; economic security; ability to make small purchases; ability to make large purchases; involvement in major household decisions; relative freedom from domination within the family; political and legal awareness; and involvement in political campaigning and protests. Sample surveys, carried out between 1991 to 1994, and case study data are used to argue that the success of Grameen Bank in empowering women is due both to its strong, central focus on credit and its skilful use of rule and rituals to make the loan programme function.
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