Journal of Interdisciplinary Feminist Thought
Disciplines
Corporate Finance | Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Finance and Financial Management | Women's Studies
Abstract
One of the original microfinance institutions (MFIs) is Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and the founder of the bank is Muhammad Yunus (2007). Yunus (2007) initiated a discourse that stated that microloans granted to women resulted in, among other things, increased female empowerment. Much of the global microfinance industry (MFI) has mimicked Yunus’ focus on women and thus created a global master narrative which stated that the capitalist system of credit provided to marginalized women can alleviate poverty and empower women. Other development organizations contend that by itself microfinance cannot empower women; empowerment also requires long-term efforts to influence change in the hegemonic patriarchal social and political structures. In this paper I will assess the MFI narrative of empowerment through a consideration of Grameen Bank’s focus on microfinance and the Self-Employed Women’s Association’s (SEWA) focus on both microloans and larger structural changes.
Recommended Citation
Randleman, Rae M.
(2013)
"Women as Leaders in Differing Microfinance Models,"
Journal of Interdisciplinary Feminist Thought: Vol. 7:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/jift/vol7/iss1/3
Included in
Corporate Finance Commons, Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons, Finance and Financial Management Commons, Women's Studies Commons
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