Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.

Q. No. 6- Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain. 

Model Answer

Social capital refers to the networks, relationships, and norms of trust that enable individuals to achieve collective goals. Women possess social capital through their family and community networks, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and local governance participation.

Women’s social capital helps build empowerment and gender equity in the following ways:

• Collective Bargaining Power – Networks like SHGs give women a stronger voice in demanding rights, wages, and entitlements.
  • Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM help rural women demand fair wages under MGNREGA
• Economic Empowerment – Access to microfinance, markets, and jobs through community groups reduces dependency.
  • SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association)
• Political Participation – Peer support encourages women to contest elections and engage in governance.
  • Reservation of 33% seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Information & Awareness – Social networks spread knowledge of rights, laws, and welfare schemes.
  • Mahila Shakti Kendras act as local hubs spreading awareness on schemes
• Social Support System – Community solidarity reduces isolation and helps challenge patriarchal norms.
  • One Stop Centres (Sakhi) provide institutional support to survivors of violence.
• Leadership Development – Participation in groups nurtures confidence and decision-making skills.
  • National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) SHGs nurture women leaders who negotiate with banks
• Gender Equity Advocacy – Women’s networks influence policies and push for inclusion in development.
  • Chipko Movement, anti-liquor protests in Andhra Pradesh) mobilized collective strength to influence state policies.

Challenges in Women’s Social Capital

• Patriarchal Norms and Mobility Restrictions – Low participation of women in North Indian khap-dominated regions.
• Token Representation in Politics – Despite 33% reservation under the 73rd Amendment, many women sarpanch are “proxies” for male relatives. 
• Intersectional Exclusion – Dalit, tribal, and minority women face double discrimination; their groups often get fewer resources and visibility. 

Way Forward

• Change social attitudes & stereotypes.
• Ensure quality education & skilling (Vigyan Jyoti, PMKVY).
• Strengthen safety & law enforcement (One Stop Centres, fast-track courts).
• Improve access to credit & jobs (MUDRA, Stand-Up India, UNEP FI banking guidance).
• Promote political participation (Women’s Reservation Act, capacity-building programmes).

The UNEP FI–UN Women (2024) guidance shows how global finance can align with SDG 5, and when combined with local initiatives like SHGs and financial inclusion, women’s social capital turns into real empowerment, advancing gender equity sustainably.

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