Culture, Collectivism and Empowerment: The Role of Feminist Ideologies in Women’s Work and Organization

Punita Bhatt and Supriya Garikipati

No 202108, Working Papers from University of Liverpool, Department of Economics

Abstract: In this paper we analyze the role of ideologies in developing a culture of work and organization among disadvantaged women in societies entrenched in structures of patriarchy. We draw on evidence from Lijjat, a women’s cooperative in India. Through a careful consideration of the context and relations in which marginalized women were able to initiate, develop, and successfully operate a business we draw two key conclusions. First, we find that pragmatist feminist ideologies are particularly supportive of women’s economic activities in patriarchal contexts. Second, we introduce a tiered approach to the study of ideological influences on women’s work arguing that these exist both at the individual level (motivation) and at the collective level (organizational practices). Studying the intersection of these tiers enables a better understanding of how poor women’s work and organization can be supported in maledominated cultures.

Keywords: gender; entrepreneurship; organizational practices; patriarchy; feminist ideologies; pragmatism; collectivism; cooperative; Lijjat; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:liv:livedp:202108

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