From Exclusion to Empowerment: Understanding the Dynamics of Women’s Financial Inclusion
Author(s): Dr.Puneet Kaur
Authors Affiliations:
Assistant Professor, Post Graduate Department of Commerce, A.S College, Khanna.Punjab.India
DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202512016 | Paper ID: IJIRMF202512016Women’s financial inclusion has emerged as a vital component of sustainable economic development, poverty reduction, and gender equality. Although global progress has been made through digital financial services, microfinance, and government-led initiatives, gender disparity persists across developing and emerging economies. This study examines the challenges and opportunities associated with women’s financial inclusion by utilizing both primary and secondary data insights. This study explores the structural, socio-cultural, technological, and institutional barriers that limit women’s access to and utilization of financial services. It further analyzes the opportunities facilitated through digital banking, fintech innovations, government schemes, SHGs, and financial literacy programs. Primary data were assumed through a structured survey of 120 women across rural and urban regions, while secondary data included published reports from the World Bank, IMF, RBI, UN Women, and academic literature. The findings indicate that although awareness of financial products has increased, several barriers persist, such as low financial literacy, mobility limitations, gender norms, risk perception, documentation challenges, and limited control over financial decisions. This study concludes with recommendations to strengthen digital infrastructure, improve literacy, design gender-sensitive products, promote entrepreneurship financing, and enhance policy interventions.
Dr.Puneet Kaur (2025); From Exclusion to Empowerment: Understanding the Dynamics of Women’s Financial Inclusion, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-11, Issue-12, Pp. 122-128. Available on – https://www.ijirmf.com/
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