Psychometric Analysis of the WoEm-M Scale to Evaluate Women Empowerment in the Ecuadorian University Environment

Jhesenia Sacoto-Loor (), María Isabel Amor and Mercedes Osuna
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Jhesenia Sacoto-Loor: Carrera Educación Básica, Facultad Educación, Turismo, Artes y Humanidades, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta 130203, Ecuador
María Isabel Amor: Department of Education, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
Mercedes Osuna: Department of Education, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-19

Abstract: Women’s empowerment embodies being acknowledged as rights-bearing individuals. Despite progress in women’s rights, disparities persist across various domains. This study seeks to validate a psychometric scale of 31 items across seven factors: participatory empowerment, temerity, external influences, independence, social satisfaction, confidence, and equality. The aim is to assess women’s empowerment within the university setting. The research was conducted in a cross-sectional, non-experimental manner, with the voluntary participation of 1478 university students from four higher education institutions in Zone 4 of Ecuador. Data was analyzed using inferential statistics, encompassing exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicated that the empowerment measurement tool could consist of 24 items grouped into six factors, and this model exhibited a good fit. The validation process enabled us to pinpoint the principal factor explaining women’s empowerment in higher education.

Keywords: scale validation; empowerment; higher education; gender equality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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