IMPACT OF MICRO-FINANCE ON WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Women empowerment is a very important element in any society that has a mission of developing socially. The way to realizing this agenda of women empowerment is through the microfinance institution. Women empowerment through the provision of microfinance loans which do not need much collateral has contributed to the invigoration of the income generating activities associated with women. This study is to evaluate the impact of microfinance on women empowerment in Saudi Arabia using quantitative approach. The tabulation of the questionnaire results evident that microfinance has given the leverage to the respondents (women entrepreneurs) in terms of financial support. In addition, Chi square results found that there was significant impact of microfinance on women empowerment in Saudi Arabia in the aspects of economic security, mobility, household economic decision making, legal awareness and family decision making.