Social capital refers to the networks, relationships, and norms of trust and cooperation that enable collective action. In the case of women, social capital built through community groups, SHGs, informal networks, and digital platforms, plays a vital complementary role in advancing their empowerment and promoting gender equity.

How Women’s Social Capital Aids Empowerment

• Access to Information and Awareness

  • Women’s groups help disseminate knowledge about rights, schemes, health, education, and legal safeguards.
  • Peer learning encourages informed decision-making.
  • Example: SHGs under DAY-NRLM have improved women’s financial literacy in rural India.

• Economic Empowerment

  • Collective bargaining power in microfinance, entrepreneurship, and market linkages.
  • Pooling resources enables risk-sharing and access to credit.
  • Example: Kudumbashree in Kerala empowers women through micro-enterprise clusters.

• Political and Civic Participation

  • Women in collectives often step up to contest panchayat elections or lead local campaigns. Global Gender Gap Report noted 44.4% women's representation in local bodies in India.
  • Builds confidence and visibility in public spaces.
  • Example: Mahila Sabhas in Gram Panchayats enable gender-sensitive governance.

• Emotional and Social Support

  • Peer networks help women navigate domestic challenges, violence, and mental stress.
  • Reduces isolation, especially in patriarchal setups.

Promoting Gender Equity through Social Capital

• Collective Voice Against Social Injustice

  • Women’s collectives help challenge patriarchal norms, caste discrimination, and gender-based violence.
  • Example: Mahila Samakhya Programme enabled rural women’s sanghas to fight child marriage, dowry, and domestic violence across states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

• Fostering Gender-Equal Norms in Families

  • Through collective learning and reflection, women influence family-level decisions—education for daughters, delayed marriage, health awareness.
  • Example: SHG-led discussions in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have led to increased school enrollment of girls and improved maternal health practices.

• Collective Bargaining for Equal Wages and Work Rights

  • Women’s networks empower members to demand parity in pay, working conditions, and job security in informal and formal sectors.
  • Example: SEWA (Gujarat) led wage negotiations for women bidi workers and street vendors, achieving equal pay for equal work.

• Access to Legal Rights and Gender Justice

  • Networks provide legal awareness and aid, enabling women to claim rights in marriage, inheritance, and workplace equality.
  • Example: Mission Shakti (Odisha) SHGs supported women in filing for property rights and domestic violence complaints, upholding gender-just outcomes.

Women’s social capital is a powerful, often underrecognized force that complements formal efforts toward empowerment and gender equity. By strengthening community networks, trust, and collective agency, it transforms women from passive beneficiaries to active changemakers, contributing to a more inclusive and just society.