Anjali Dutt|Shelly Grabe|Marina Castro
Exploring Links between Women's Business Ownership and Empowerment among Maasai Women in Tanzania
University of California, Santa Cruz|University of California, Santa Cruz|American Institutes for Research
despite increasing interest effort support womens empowerment globally women remain severely disadvantaged group nearly every country throughout globe current study examine relationship womens participation financial markets different indices empowerment questionnaires administered three groups maasai women n 224 living rural northern tanzania women members cooperatively owned business groups women owned businesses independently via microcredit loans women businesses group difference tests revealed cooperative business owners reported higher levels agency independent owners lower levels partner control greater involvement financial decision making nonbusiness owners independent owners reported greater involvement financial decision making lower levels agency nonowners additionally results structural equation models demonstrated participation cooperatives versus independent nonbusiness ownership associated fewer experiences domestic violence enhanced psychological wellbeing via effects partner control agency financial decision making policy implications regarding importance considering cultural norms may required facilitate transformative context women discussed