Measuring Empowerment in South Asia: Empirical Insights from the Development of a Women’s Empowerment and Labour (WEaL) Scale

Sophie Lountain, Bethany Cooper and Lin Crase

Journal of Development Studies, 2025, vol. 61, issue 12, 1989-2009

Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach to measuring individuals’ property rights over labour, designed to serve as a proxy for their broader empowerment. Drawing initially on Scott’s (1989) property rights framework, this research uses exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to develop a scale that captures the nuances of control over labour in rural South Asia. Numerous government initiatives have targeted the empowerment of women in agriculture in an effort to address issues like poverty and food insecurity and improve income, productivity, and health outcomes. However, the extensive and costly nature of current measurement methods means that it is often measured sporadically or not at all. This paper thus marks the initial step towards developing a solution for more affordable and concise measurement approaches, bridging the gap between rhetoric and actionable strategies for women’s empowerment.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2025.2504411

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