Date of Award
5-12-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
African American Studies
Advisor(s)
S. N Sangmpam
Subject Categories
African American Studies | Arts and Humanities | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
Abstract
“Empowerment or Entrapment? A Critical Analysis of Microfinance Operations among Female Borrowers in Kitui County, Kenya” is a research project that aims to understand the dynamics of microfinance loan expectations and their implications for women. For this study, one cannot help but borrow or get insights from those who have written about the culture of Africa. To a greater extent, they all touch on the anthropological aspect of Africa. I use anthropological/ cultural theoretical perspectives, political economy, and Afro-feminism as my leading theories. I hypothesize that where women are typically engaged in heavy domestic chores and are undervalued and under-compensated compared to their male counterparts, who control access to material resources, their involvement in economic activities, such as microfinance, is likely to be subjected to the same type of cultural, gender, and economic exploitation and constraints that prevent them from meeting their economic and financial expectations. Women in Kenya find themselves in this situation. To test the hypothesis, I will use both primary and secondary sources and data that I utilized during my summer externship in Kenya in 2023. This study reveals that traditionally gendered norms continue to diminish Kenyan women’s roles and subject them to burdensome domestic workloads of caregiving and nurturing the young ones. Consequently, even if women have access to financial resources, they lack the appropriate time to be as effective as their male counterparts, who are frequently seen as the primary providers of income and have authority over material resources. In conducting this analysis, I argue that MFI primarily works against women’s socioeconomic empowerment and poverty alleviation. Although I am cognizant of the fact that MFI’s preference to work with women has been perceived as a bottom-up economic model that connects and provides a little additional money into the pockets of poor women to improve their socioeconomic standing, I argue that when compared to the enormous disadvantages associated with managing the micro-lending initiative, these benefits are minor and hardly felt. This thesis serves as an emancipatory approach and seeks to oppose the continued trends of financial exploitation and capitalism among Africans in general, and especially among poor women. Additionally, it also urges the adoption of reforms tailored specifically for the women of Africa and acts as a wake-up call to fully address any cultural underpinnings that uphold or propagate the stereotype that African women are inferior.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Musembi, Eric Kioko, "Empowerment or Entrapment? A Critical Analysis of Microfinance Operations among Female Borrowers in Kitui County, Kenya" (2024). Theses - ALL. 884.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/884
