The Differential Impact on Gender Relations of 'Transformatory' and 'Instrumentalist' Women's Group Intermediation in Microfinance Schemes: A Case Study for Rural South India

Nathalie Holvoet · 2006 · Journal of international women's studies

Summary. Microfinance programs in rural South India use women's groups differently, with diverging impacts on gender relations. Some programs treat groups as tools to improve financial sustainability while maintaining existing gender hierarchies. Others actively mobilize women through credit to build collective action and transform underlying gender relations. The paper argues that assuming all group-based microfinance achieves empowerment is shortsighted; program design fundamentally determines whether women's empowerment actually occurs.

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@article{holvoet-2006-differential-impact-gender-relations-transformatory,
  title   = {The Differential Impact on Gender Relations of 'Transformatory' and 'Instrumentalist' Women's Group Intermediation in Microfinance Schemes: A Case Study for Rural South India},
  author  = {Nathalie Holvoet},
  journal = {Journal of international women's studies},
  year    = {2006},
  url     = {https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol7/iss4/3}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - The Differential Impact on Gender Relations of 'Transformatory' and 'Instrumentalist' Women's Group Intermediation in Microfinance Schemes: A Case Study for Rural South India
AU  - Nathalie Holvoet
JO  - Journal of international women's studies
PY  - 2006
UR  - https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol7/iss4/3
ER  - 

Details

Countries

India

Regions

Asia

Categories

funding, entrepreneurship, regional-innovation-systems

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2026-04-28