HIGHER EDUCATION- A MEANS TO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Co-Authors:
Author: Dr.C.AMIRTHASELVI
Dr.R.PANCHAVARNAM, MRS.V.SHANTHA MEENA
Head & Assistant Professor of Commerce(C.A) Assistant Professors of Commerce(C.A)
V.V.Vanniaperumal College for Women V.V.Vanniaperumal College for Women
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar
Introduction:

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "If you educate the man, you educate the person but
if you educate the woman, you educate the nation". One of the most significant transformations
in education in India over the past several decades is the drastic increase in women's access to
colleges and universities. An educated woman has the skills, the self-confidence and the power
to be a better citizen. Women have all the power and capacity as that of men and they are
manifesting themselves amongst different opportunities provided through higher education.

Higher education includes teaching, research, doing applied work e.g. in medical schools
and dental schools, and social services activities of universities. Within the realm of teaching, it
includes both the undergraduate level, and beyond that, graduate-level or postgraduate level.
Higher education leads a woman to "Complete living" with self-confidence, necessity of life,
family welfare, involvement in social and political activities. The higher education helps women
to be mentally and emotionally stronger and to face challenges and overcome obstacles in life
and to be a complete woman.

Women empowerment is the process of change through which women expand their ability to
make strategic choices about their own lives and to participate on equal terms with men in
bringing about desired changes in the society in which they live.
The economic empowerment of women is essential for human development. By women’s
economic empowerment, they have access to and control over valued resources, have strong
positive implications for the well-being of the family, including their own and their children’s

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well being. It increases the chances that they will seek family planning and reproductive health
services, ensure the survival, health, nutrition and education of their children and, in certain
contexts, reduce gender inequalities in household resource allocation. The economic
empowerment of women thus contributes to the development of human capital and human
capabilities, including their own.
Objectives of the study:
The main objectives of this research paper are
1. To present the features of economic empowerment of women.
2. To analyse the existence of economic empowerment of women.
3. To identify the hindrances in the path of economic empowerment.
Methodology:
The study is based on primary and secondary data. Primary data is collected from 80 women
respondents of Virudhunagar town. Secondary data is collected from various web sites, journals and
magazines.
Features of economic empowerment of women:
In the 21st century, women enjoy more freedom and power than ever before. However,
they are still disadvantaged when compared to men in virtually all aspects of life. Women are
deprived of equal access to education, health care, capital, and decision making powers in the
political, social, and business sectors. Investment in the economic empowerment of women can
and will help reverse these trends. Increased income controlled by women gives them self
confidence, which helps them obtain a voice and vote in:
1.Household decisions such as domestic well-being decisions. For instance, women tend to use
income clout for more equitable decisions about sons and daughters' diet, education and health.
2.Economic decisions: acquiring, allocating, and selling assets.
3.Fertility decisions: economically empowered women tend to have fewer children
4.Land use and conservation decisions: rural women tend to favor sustainable environmental
practices since they are usually the ones that collect the families' natural resources such as water
and firewood.
Improving women’s economic opportunities is also key to poverty reduction and economic
growth by

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  Advocating for increased recognition, reduction and redistribution of women’s unpaid
care work;
 Supporting research of customary law to help women gain access to land and participate
in decision-making form;
 Supporting women’s entrepreneurship through training in production skills and
techniques, business management and functional literacy;
 Helping to certify businesses that adhere to equality standards in the workplace;
 Supporting efforts to strengthen women’s legal rights to property.

Analysis and Interpretation:

Socio economic Profile of the Respondents:
Table 1: Socio Economic Profile of the Respondents
Variables No. of % of respondents
respondents
Age 20-30 12 15.0
30-40 38 47.5
40-50 22 27.5
Above 50 8 10.0
Total 80 100

Educational UG 14 17.5
qualification PG 18 22.5
M.Phil,Ph.D.,B.Ed.,&PG 42 52.5
diploma
Professional 6 7.5
Total 80 100

Occupation Government employee 19 23.75

Private employee 36 45.00
Self employed 13 16.25
Unemployed 12 15.00
Total 80 100

Annual income of the Less than 1,20,000 18 26.47

respondents ( ) 1,20,000-2,40,000 21 30.88
2,40,000-3,60,000 25 36.77
Above3,60,000 4 5.88

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 Total 68 100

Annual Family Less than 2,40,000 21 26.25

Income( ) 2,40,000-3,60,000 23 28.75
3,60,000-4,80,000 27 33.75
Above 4,80,000 9 11.25
Total 80 100

Experience Below 5 years 7 10.29

5-10 years 18 26.47
10-15 years 33 48.53
Above 15 years 10 14.71
Total 68 100

Source: Primary Data

The above table shows that 47.5% respondents belongs to the age group of 30-40, 52.5%
of the respondents possess M.Phil, Ph.D. B.Ed.&PG diploma, 45% of the respondents are private
employees. The table also indicates that 36.77% of the respondents have the annual income
between 2,40,000 and 3,60,000, 33.75%of the respondents have annual family income
between 3,60, 000 and 4,80,000 and 48.53% of the respondents have 10 to 15years
experience.

Existence of economic empowerment of women

The existence of economic empowerment of women is analyzed with the help of following keys
Table 2: Key to Economic Empowerment
Key to Economic empowerment Yes NO
Increased recognition in family 22 58
Reduction in unpaid care work 33 47
Access to land 19 61
Support women entrepreneurship 24 56
Equality in work place 16 64
Strengthens legal right to property 21 59
Decisions regarding health 55 15
Decision regarding education 44 36

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 Decision regarding welfare 38 42
Source: Primary Data
Out of 80 respondents, 55 respondents stated ‘yes’ to the key ‘Decisions regarding health’
and 64 respondents stated ‘No’ for the key ‘Equality in work place’.
Hindrances to economic empowerment of women
If women have lower levels of education and skills, if they face discrimination in markets for
the sale of their goods, services and wage labour as well as in their access to assets, technology
and financial services, their efforts to earn a living for themselves and their dependents are likely
to be rewarded more unfavorably than those of men with equivalent characteristics. The
following are the hindrances in the economic empowerment of women
 Men’s fear of women’s dominance
 By inheritance
 Lack of practical knowledge
 Low level confidence among women
 Lack of adequate skill
 Fear of separation

Table 3: Hindrances in economic empowerment of women

Ranks Total Mean Rank
I II III IV V VI score score
Men’s fear of 34 28 9 5 3 1 402 5.03 I
women’s (204) (140) (36) (15) (6) (1)
dominance
Inheritance 6 4 17 8 21 24 214 2.68 V
(36) (20) (68) (24) (42) (24)
Lack of 20 21 13 11 7 8 332 4.15 II
knowledge (120) (105) (52) (33) (14) (8)
Lower level of 5 7 12 24 19 13 236 2.95 IV
confidence (30) (35) (48) (72) (38) (13)

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Lac of adequate 12 15 17 21 8 7 301 3.76 III
skill (72) (75) (68) (63) (16) (7)
Fear of separation 3 5 12 11 22 27 195 2.44 VI
(18) (25) (48) (33) (44) (27)
Source: Primary Data
It is inferred from Table 3 that the hindrance ‘Men’s fear of women’s dominance’ gets
first rank with the mean score of 5.03 points, lack of knowledge secures second rank with the
mean score of 4.15 points, followed by ‘lack of adequate skill’ and ‘lower level confidence’ with
the mean score of 3.76 and 2.95 points respectively.
Suggestions:
It is suggested that women’s practical knowledge and skill should be improved. Educated
women should become employed or an entrepreneur in order to improve their economic status.
Conclusion:
On the basis of above analysis it could be concluded that there is no doubt about the
essential need of empowering women through higher education. Now it is cleared that only
literacy is not the ultimate solution but women should be highly educated to know their rights
and duties and should be able to use their rights as per the need.