Author's School

Brown School

Author's Department

Social Work

Language

English (en)

Date of Award

8-16-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Chair and Committee

Fred Ssewamala

Abstract

Prioritizing economic empowerment of young women is necessary for achieving gender equality and promoting sustainable development, as it is intertwined with sociocultural, familial, legal, political, and psychological practices that foster gender equality. Empowering women economically can help them gain control over their financial future, break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and inequality, and achieve autonomy and agency over their lives. Guided by the asset theory and the theory of gender and power, this dissertation employed an embedded mixed-methods approach to examine the economic empowerment of young women in Southern Uganda focusing on three aims. Aim 1 examined the pathways linking restrictive gender norms to decision-making autonomy. Aim 2 analyzed differences between genders in the effects of an economic empowerment intervention (EEI) on asset development. Aim 3 explored the barriers and facilitators to asset development and decision-making autonomy among young women. To examine the direct and indirect pathways influencing the relationship between restrictive gender norms and decision-making autonomy, this study used cross-sectional data from the National Institutes of Health-funded Bridges to the Future program. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the direct, indirect, and overall effects of restrictive gender norms on decision-making autonomy among both young women and men. The findings revealed a significant direct relationship between restrictive gender norms and decision-making autonomy. Additionally, a specific indirect effect was observed through asset ownership. Regarding sex as a moderator in the model, results revealed that young women were less likely to own assets and participate in decision-making processes, despite exhibiting higher levels of self-esteem. Aim 2 used a robust longitudinal dataset spanning Waves 1 through 5 of the Bridges Study to explore sex differences in the effects of an EEI on asset development. Asset development was assessed using two measures: physical assets, determined by an asset index, and financial resources, assessed through a single-item question which inquired whether participants had any savings. Two mixed effects linear and logistic regression models were employed. The results revealed no statistically significant sex differences in the impact of the EEI. However, notable sex differences were observed in the accumulation of both physical and financial assets. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated a positive effect of an EEI on accumulating financial assets, with a significant increase in savings observed among participants in the treatment groups compared to the control group over the study period. Additionally, depression, working for pay, and education of the head of household were associated with accumulating physical and financial assets. Aim 3 explored the narratives of participants to understand the factors shaping asset development and decision-making autonomy among young women. The emergent themes included various facilitators and barriers. Facilitators included personal attributes, financial opportunities, involvement in farming, participation in economic empowerment programs, and assuming leadership roles. Barriers such as societal expectations, restricted mobility, early pregnancies and marriages, and parental perceptions of gender roles posed significant challenges to young women’s ability to accumulate assets and engage in decision-making processes. Overall, the study findings emphasize the significant role of economic empowerment interventions in facilitating the accumulation of assets among young women, particularly in resource-constrained communities. Access to financial assets not only enables young women to accumulate resources but also empowers them to engage more actively in decision-making processes. However, it is also important to examine the structural barriers to this progress as findings highlight the widespread gender disparities in asset ownership and decision-making autonomy among young men and women in Southern Uganda, rooted in restrictive gender norms. Addressing these disparities necessitates interventions that directly confront systemic issues within societal structures. Prioritizing the transformation of prevailing restrictive gender norms, particularly those favoring men, as outlined by Connell’s (1987) theory of gender and power, is essential. The study advocates for comprehensive interventions that tackle the root causes of gender inequality, challenge entrenched norms, and create supportive environments for young women.

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