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Empowering Women

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Submitted By zainabd
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Journal of Management and Social Sciences Vol. 9, No. 2, (Fall 2013) 09-22

Women Empowerment Through Microcredit: Step Towards Alleviating Feminization of Poverty
Sara Wali Qazi*
Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) Karachi

Dr. Manzoor Isran*
SZABIST Karachi

Dr. Samina Isran*
Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur

Dr. Nadeem A. Syed*
SZABIST Karachi

ABSTRACT
Purpose - The study explores and evaluates the women‟s experiences with microcredit facility for the purpose of women empowerment. While there is a mutual understanding and general consensus on closer nexus between women empowerment and microcredit, women are disempowered for variety of reasons such as lacks of financial resources, being a member of patriarchy society, misinterpreted religious concepts about her role and position in the society, and cultural restraints. However, microcredit, globally promoted as a “miracle cure” for the financially weak, especially women who face so many problems accessing microcredit for variety of reason, which have been discussed in detail in this study. Methodology/Sample - This is qualitative study with inductive approach, and interpretive philosophy which allow the existence of multiple subjective perspectives and construction of knowledge. Women who availed microcredit from microfinance institutions (MFIs) were selected for the research study. The data was congregated through in-depth interviews and stopped at saturation level. Through phenomenological analysis, women lived experiences were analyzed. Findings - The results indicate that microcredit strengthens women in all dimensions but plays more influential role when they are provided with autonomous access to microcredit, support from family, and facilities from MFIs. Needless to say that the multidimensional women‟s stability contributes in alleviating feminization of poverty and this is not a

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