A Gendered Analysis of Microcredit Lending: The Effects of Women’s Rights on Grassroots Development

by Elisabeth C. Bremer

Seinor Independent Study Thesis submitted to the Department of Political Science at The College of Wooster - March, 2008

Abstract
This independent study project will explore the relationship between gendered oppression at the state level and the success of microcredit lending, a development program that emphasizes the empowerment of poor women. Based on the literature, I expect to see an inverse relationship between women’s oppression and microcredit success within a state. After a quantitative statistical analysis, I find that my hypothesis is not supported. There is not a significant relationship between state oppression of women and the success of microcredit lending institutions. This has important implications for microcredit lending policies, prospects, and evidential support for the power and scope of microcredit lending.