Abstract
It is widely accepted that economies and societies will prosper if women are economically engaged. However, little attention has been paid as to how social enterprises, driven by business considerations, can pursue social transformation (specifically, gender issues). A study is thus needed to study social businesses and its capacity to facilitate economic empowerment of women thus making markets more inclusive. Such an affirmation, however, poses three questions: Is capitalizing on the gender integration trend going to be enough to advance the cause of women? Is the ‘social change industry' (social enterprise sector) giving gender equity the attention and investment it deserves? Could it become a catalyst for gender integration in their value chain? The study employs a persuasive case study approach highlighting five case studies in India that are social enterprises that are employing women across India and explores the intersectionality between gender, empowerment, and employment in the context of social entrepreneurship.
TopBackground
Given the above, across social enterprises sector, there are significant opportunities for market expansion through focus on female consumers/customers. However, little attention has been paid as to how social enterprises, are driven by business considerations as well as pursue social transformation (specifically, gender issues). For instance, businesses have the ability to increase productivity by investing in women's capacity building and improving the engagement of female employees; opportunities for market expansion through emphasis on female consumers galore; underrepresentation of women at senior management and board level, slows down the progress in efforts to integrate gender. Women would and have benefited along four dimensions in this space: as leaders, as employees, as value chain participants, and as customers.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Intersectionality: It denotes interconnection of social categorizations like race, class, and gender, which is thought to create overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
Employment Business Model: It addresses business needs and is socially acceptable and sustainable.
Social Enterprise: It is an organization with a central social or environmental mission that earns at least 25% of its revenue through commercial activity. Social enterprises create employment for semi-skilled and unskilled workforce in rural and urban part of the country.
Social Entrepreneurship: It is a brand-new, ground-breaking business that affects change. The major objective is to use business to bring about long-lasting social transformation.
Gender Inequality: It is a legal, social and cultural phenomenon in which women and men have differing rights and levels of dignity depending on their gender, which is reflected in their uneven access to and enjoyment of rights as well as the adoption of stereotypical social and cultural roles.
Gender Integration: Gender integration in social enterprises refers to the efforts made to promote gender equality and inclusivity within the organizational structures, policies, and practices of social enterprises.
Women Empowerment: It is the process through which women take responsibility for their own lives, gain control over them, and develop decision-making skills.
Value Chain: It refers to all the activities necessary to bring a product or service from conception, through the various phases of production (involving a combination of physical transformation and the input of various producer services), to delivery to final consumers, and final disposal after use.