Empowerment of rural women through self-employment – A study with special reference to thiruthangal in Virudhunagar District

The present study examined the empowerment of women by addressing two dimensions: economic empowerment and personal empowerment. One hundred and fifty women involved in self-employment from a rural area Thiruthangal, near Sivakasi nick named as Kutty Japan in South India took part in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through questionnaire. They were analysed using statistical tools. The analysis indicates that self employment not only helps the respondents to generate additional income but also enables them economically independent and self-sufficient. Chi-square test in the study reveals that income, expenditure and savings of the respondents before and after self-employment differ significantly. Women involved in self-employment felt independence and their sense of determination helps them to achieve success in their endeavour. The study concludes that a change has to be brought about not only in the status of women but in the attitude of the society towards them. Priority has therefore necessarily to be given to changing image of women, from a passive onlooker and recipient, to that of a positive doer and achiever. The implications of these findings and the importance of this study are discussed.