Analysing The Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Women Empowerment : A Rights-Based Approach to Understanding Economic Agency and Barriers

Abstract

Financial inclusion is well recognised as an empowerment tool for women, but its potential to expand women’s economic rights remains unevenly achieved, especially in a patriarchal context. This study investigates whether and how financial inclusion deepens women’s ability to assert their economic rights through a rights-based framework, and what structural and socio-cultural variables mediate this relationship. The research uses qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with sixteen women from Malappuram district, Kerala, and unstructured interviews with two local bankers. Participants were sampled using snowball sampling and represent a variety of socio-economic and occupational backgrounds. Thematic analysis revealed that although all the participants possessed bank accounts, genuine financial autonomy was frequently limited by poor financial literacy, patriarchal decision-making factors, and poor institutional support. Financial autonomy was also influenced by factors such as employment, financial literacy and intra-household dynamics. Evidence indicates that financial inclusion policy needs to progress beyond access to proactively stimulate financial literacy, institutionally-backed accountability, and gender-insensitive outreach to facilitate effective and equitable economic empowerment.