UNTAPPED RESOURCES HOW UNDERDEVELOPED GENDER EMPOWERMENT CONSTRAINS THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IN BANGLADESH

by Cook , Taylor Michelle

Gender empowerment is an oft-cited result of microfinance participation. However, research to verify this outcome continues to produce ambivalent results implying that microfinance programs are not maximizing their potential impact. While gender empowerment may be a desirable end to development, it is less often used as a means to achieve development goals. This paper tests the hypothesis that gender empowerment improves microfinance program performance using data from the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and a theoretical framework based on prevalent institutional ideologies. The results show that empowered clients have a higher likelihood of attaining desirable program outcomes. These results can be taken as evidence that microfinance organizations should consider investments in support programs to directly address social impediments to gender empowerment as a way to increase their overall effectiveness.