3. WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT?

When gathering support to promote women’s economic empowerment, it is useful to prove its positive economic as well as societal impact. There exists ample research (see References) which acknowledges the contribution of women’s economic empowerment to overall economic and social well-being. 

Their findings show that women’s economic empowerment:

• supports equality between men and women in terms of participation in the economy;
• helps to reduce the gender pay gap and the gap in employment between men and women;
• allows  the social and economic potential of women to be fulfilled;
• makes access to capital and financial services affordable for women;
• boosts new businesses and supports local economies, boosts economic productivity and increases economic diversification;
• indirectly influences the quality of life of the woman’s entire family (via an increase in household incomes, better healthcare, better nutrition, family planning, increased wellbeing, greater investment in children’s education etc.), communities as well as the society (via taxes, contribution to social security and access to health insurance);
• sets a path for poverty reduction; supports adequate workplace conditions (via fair wages, safe working conditions, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence).