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BREAKTHROUGHS IN WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT:

Decision-making power of women in microfinance and financial self-

help groups in Jharkhand and West Bengal

Bobbi Gray, Hayley Worsham, Chandni Muralidharan,

Benjamin Crookston, Alison Bardsley

May 2018

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Acknowledgements

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................................... 4

Background ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Methods ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Results ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

............................................................................................................................................................. 9

........................................................................................................................................... 10

........................................................................................................................... 11

....................................................................................................................................... 14

....................................................................................................................... 16

......................................................................................................................................................... 17

................................................................................................................................................... 20

Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................................... 25

References ...................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Figures and Tables

Figure 1: Contributions to household income ............................................................................................... 12

Figure 2: Contributions to household savings (inclusive of cash, livestock, in groups, in

accounts) ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Figure 3: Household debt management .......................................................................................................... 13

Figure 4: Comfort with level of debt personally carrying ......................................................................... 14

Figure 5: Key decision-maker on health expenses ...................................................................................... 17

Figure 6: Comparisons across partners and states for decision-making on household

expenses .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Figure 7: Grameen Foundation’s women's empowerment framework............................................... 23

Table 1: Definitions of empowerment .................................................................................................................. 9

Table 2: Decision-making roles ............................................................................................................................ 15

Table 3: Spousal communication and disagreements................................................................................ 19

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Abbreviations

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Background

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Methods

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Results

DEFINING EMPOWERMENT

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FEELING EMPOWERED

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CHILD MARRIAGE

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Less than half 41%

Half 8%

More than half 2%

I'm the only earner

3%

I don't earn 46%

HOUSEHOLD FINANCES

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Less than half 43%

Half 3% More than half

0%

Entire savings are mine

10%

No contributions

41%

No savings 3%

Less than half 23%

Half 28%

More than half 8%

Entire loan in my name

26%

No loan in my name 13%

No debt 2%

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24.20%

42.40%

24.20%

9.10%

Very comfortable Somewhat comfortable

Somewhat uncomfortable

Very uncomfortable

WOMEN’S DECISIONS

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HEALTH DECISIONS

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Respondent only Husband only Joint decision

Mother-in-law Father-in-law Other

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Bandhan JK

Respondent only Husband only Joint decision

Mother-in-law Father-in-law Other

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ADS WB

Respondent only Husband only

Joint decision Mother-in-law

Father-in-law Other

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Bandhan WB

Respondent only Husband only Joint decision

Mother-in-law Father-in-law Other

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c

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WHEN CRISIS STRIKES

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BECOMING A WIDOW

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Discussion

UNBREAKABLE

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Conclusion

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References

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