IMPACT OF EDUCATION &ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ON WOMEN’S AUTONOMY & DECISION MAKING POWER -A STATISTICAL STUDY OF WORKING WOMEN IN MUMBAI (SUBURB)

Commerce

Second National Level Interdisciplinary Seminar on "Exploring Emerging Trends and Innovation in Research in Commerce, Science & Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences”

Access to education and paid employment are considered as the two important determinants of women empowerment. Education helps women to gain independence from the social & family constraints of patriarchal traditions. Many of the researchers have proved the direct link of education level with the status of women in the family. Women’s autonomy over Financial participation in decision making process and their autonomy are equally important components of women empowerment along with access to resources. The present study has tried to analyze the women’s autonomy over ‘Financial Decision Making’, Freedom of Movement and Social Participation w.r.t. their empowerment measured on education and assets purchased. The study included information from 1387 selected working women from westerns part of Mumbai suburb. The study finds that, women’s decision power increases on ‘Financial decisions’ and ‘Social participation’ when they are empowered with education and have assets in their name. Study also reveals that, economic empowerment gives more autonomy over decision making and Freedom of movement. On the other hand education gives them better access to Media and control over husband’s income in proportion. Hence, it can be concluded that, economic empowerment gives the working women more autonomy in decision making as compare to education attainment.

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