Learning About Women. Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and the Environment in India: A Case Study

Abstract

On a recent semester-long stay in India, students from Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) learned about a variety of social and economic development issues, with an emphasis on the role and status of women. This study describes and assesses the impact and effectiveness of their learning with a particular focus on their exposure to Meerut Seva Samaj (MSS), one economic development initiative concentrating on rural women. The Indian economy has recently witnessed an increase in entrepreneurship among women. Entrepreneurship often allows women to engage in home-based work so that they still can attend to their domestic duties, while also helping to financially support the family. Banks, companies, and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are finding that offering micro-credit, or small loans, and other types of entrepreneurial assistance can help women start businesses. Meerut Seva Samaj provides a concrete example of how Indian women, especially in rural areas, can become successful entrepreneurs with the help of technology, training and other resources. MSS also assists local communities in the use of biogas, an environmentally friendly energy source that improves the environment and fertility of land in rural areas. The study places this service learning case study from India in the context of the literature on women, economic development, entrepreneurship and environmental issues.

Women's Perceived Empowerment in Entrepreneurial Efforts: The Role of Bricolage and Psychological Capital

“…These conditions are further exasperated in developing countries, where resource constraints emanating from cultural, social, and institutional barriers, along with traditionally patriarchal structures, have limited women's participation in entrepreneurship (Dana ; Ramadani et al ). To encourage prospective women entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and various non‐governmental institutions (NGOs) have started providing microcredit facilities or small loans as well as offering various technical and managerial assistance to help women start and run their businesses (Bertaux and Crable ). However, there have been some concerns over the impact of the types of businesses created through these programs, and several other major hurdles remain which require women to be empowered and flexible in order to overcome including sociocultural issues, interpersonal constraints, and family issues (Sonwalkar and Nandedkar ).…”

About Gender Differences and the Social Environment in the Development of Entrepreneurial Intentions

“…This influence tends to be weaker for women (Matthews and Moser ; Verheul, Uhlaner, and Thurik ; Watson and Newby ). These differences in environmental influences have been found to be stronger in less developed regions or countries (Bertaux and Crable ; Roomi and Parrot ; Wells, Pfantz, and Byrne ). This therefore leads to the following hypotheses being proposed:…”

“…In the case of less developed countries, research has also focused on the influence of the national or regional environment on female entrepreneurship. In these environments, traditional attitudes and values transmitted through family and social links could specifically be behind the lower entrepreneurial activity of women with respect to men (Bertaux and Crable ; Roomi and Parrot ; Wells, Pfantz, and Byrne ). Conversely, in countries and regions with very low income levels and high female unemployment, it may also be true that women tend to undertake very marginal subsistence activities, thus showing apparently higher start‐up rates than those of men (García‐Cabrera and García‐Soto ; Verheul, van Stel, and Thurik ).…”

The relationship between women entrepreneurship and gender equality

“…Gender equality is expected to increase the support for female entrepreneurship (Baughn et al 2006). Entrepreneurship often gives women the flexibility to handle their domestic responsibilities at home, while also providing financial support for their family (Bertaux and Crable 2007). Women's entrepreneurship has been known as an important unexploited source of economic growth in the last decade (Georgeta, 2012).…”