BARRIERS TO GROWTH FOR RURAL WOMEN IN
Date
2011-05-06
Authors
Kern, Judith Johanna
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Abstract
This study explores the barriers that rural women, who run micro
enterprises in rural South Africa, encounter in their work and how these
affect the growth of their businesses. The research is based on a
qualitative case study approach. Five business women living and working
in the rural KwaZulu-Natal were interviewed and observed. The purposes
of this study were to identify barriers to growth and to understand
empowerment needs to overcome the barriers. The findings of this study
show that rural women have to deal with 31 barriers in growing
enterprises. They face not only financial barriers, but also bear the burden
of living in isolation, on the periphery of development. The women are
constrained and marginalised through weak infrastructure, low support
from institutions, government and the legacy of the past. The findings
show that the women are, however, able to overcome their problems.
They are capacitating themselves through building networks, forming cooperatives,
skilling themselves, acquiring access to cell phones and
finding coping mechanisms to deal with their lives and businesses
Description
MM - P&DM
Keywords
Micro enterprises, Rural development, Women and development