Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Raghu Korrapati

Abstract

Various facets of gender inequality continue to deter women from participating in the formal economy. Deployment of a significant level of capital from global sources and attention from the global academic community have not succeeded in addressing the persistence of economic marginalization of women. This study's purpose was to identify appropriate community-based enterprise (CBE) strategies for empowering women to overcome barriers and enter the labor force. The research questions addressed the study purpose and how the social capital and collective experiences of the community influenced the success of CBE strategies. Based on the CBE conceptual framework, this qualitative descriptive case study design included a purposeful sample of 12 participants drawn from members of the selected CBE, Kudumbashree Mission. An inductive analysis of the data collected through semi structured interviews and focus group discussion led to emergence of themes. The results showed that the barriers to women’s participation in the labor force are many and varied, and different combinations of strategies are needed to address those barriers. Results also showed that the CBEs can use social capital and collective experience of their members, for creating social value by addressing social and economic stresses within the community. The findings addressed a gap in the literature about effective CBE strategies for increasing women’s labor force participation and affirmed the CBE theory. The social change implications are that the findings will be useful for development agencies and enterprises engaged in increasing women’s labor force participation, for making their strategies more efficient.

Download

Share

 
COinS