Empowering women through social entrepreneurship: case of a women’s cooperative in India

Abstract

Women’s cooperatives offer self-employment opportunities that can contribute to women’s social inclusion and empowerment. This article seeks to broaden existing understandings of women’s entrepreneurship by focusing on less studied types of ventures and contexts—namely, a social entrepreneurial venture in India. A case study analysis was used to assess two primary areas of interest: (1) elements of empowerment embedded in the venture’s business model and (2) individual perceptions of empowerment. The personal accounts of sister members reveal that this collective form of entrepreneurship has empowered them in three ways: economic security, development of entrepreneurial behavior, and increased contributions to the family.