Gender Equality in the Digital Age: Exploring Women's Empowerment, Digital Entrepreneurship, and Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53573/rhimrj.2025.v12n6SI.007Keywords:
Gender Equality, Digital Financial Inclusion, Women's Empowerment, Emerging Markets, Digital Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, SDGsAbstract
This study examines the intersection of gender equality, digital entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion in emerging markets. Through mixed-methods analysis of data from Asian, African, and Latin American economies (2011-2025), we establish that gender-responsive digital financial inclusion (GDFI) significantly enhances women's economic empowerment and household welfare. Our constructed GDFI Index reveals that every 10% improvement correlates with a 2.1% increase in female entrepreneurship and a 1.8% reduction in household poverty. Barriers include persistent digital access gaps (54% lower internet usage among South Asian women), limited venture capital (2% for women-led startups), and entrenched sociocultural norms. This study proposes an integrated framework that combines digital public infrastructure development, gender-lens investing, and policy reforms to accelerate progress toward SDGs 5 and 8. The findings underscore the US$1.7 trillion opportunity to bridge the women's MSME financing gap, while highlighting the critical role of women-centric digital ecosystems.
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