A Study of Financial Inclusion and Women's Empowerment in South Africa : The Case of Female Entrepreneurs in Gauteng

Abstract

The study examines the subject of financial inclusion and women’s empowerment in South Africa. Apart from the technicalities and minutiae affecting financial inclusion for women, the study will analyse the existing government measures on financial inclusion to determine if these contribute to the socio-economic empowerment of female entrepreneurs in South Africa. The study uses a feminist political economy perspective to understand the historical exclusion of the female gender in South Africa and the gender gaps regarding financial inclusion as a result. The effects of colonialism in South Africa on gender inequality, structural, psychological and cultural degradation and how these have affected women’s participation in social and economic relations in the finance sector in the country are part of the effort to understand financial inclusion and women’s empowerment. Resentment, exclusion and coercion are the inevitable consequences of poverty and inequality in post-apartheid South Africa. Although concerted efforts have been made by the state to address this problem, including ensuring that women and girls have access to finance and gender equality within their constitutional rights (as contained in the national policy), the problem has remained unabated. Using the qualitative method approach, based on attitudinal research of an exploratory nature, the study hoped to gain insight, from the available literature as well as respondents’ responses, into financial inclusion/exclusion and how this impacts women’s empowerment in South Africa.

Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Inclusive Development, Political Economy, Women’s Empowerment, South Africa.