Perception of empowerment level of working women in rural West Bengal: A region-specific comparative study

Abstract

Women empowerment signifies enabling women to act with their full potential through education, economic participation, decision-making and self-esteem. It breaks traditional barriers, promotes gender equality, and strengthens social and economic development. The participation of women in the workforce not only enable them to support their family, but it also makes them a different place in their family and society. This study compares the empowerment status of rural working women across West Bengal, examining regional differences and the influence of socio-economic factors on their empowerment levels in the state of West Bengal, India. 400 working women were randomly selected and surveyed with a pre-tested interview schedule from 5 regions of West Bengal as specified by NSSO, GoI. The result explored that there are significant differences in the empowerment level of women in different regions of West Bengal. The women of the central plain are more empowered compared to the other regions because of their geographical situation. Age, marital status, caste, education, occupation and income also play a significant role in women empowerment. In the western region, the empowerment level is low and as a result, though in most cases, women are the bread earner of the family, while male members take the financial decisions. The overall decision-making power and empowerment status can be enhanced through the development of specific socio-economic conditions. The regional imbalances need to be addressed with proper region-specific women development plans.