The impact of financial knowledge on the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Date
2023
Authors
Kandolo, Ka Muzombo
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Abstract
Entrepreneurial activities play crucial roles in poverty alleviation, job creation, economic
development and empowerment worldwide. However, women entrepreneurs face
numerous challenges, including insufficient financial knowledge, gender inequality, and
lack of productive assets, which limit their access to finance and economic
empowerment. To address this gap, this study aims to examine the effect of financial
knowledge on the economic enablement of women entrepreneurs in Durban, South
Africa, and to contribute to the academic literature on women entrepreneurship by
applying feminist theories. The study collected quantitative data from 400 women
entrepreneurs using a Likert-scaled questionnaire and analysed it using Structural
Equation Modelling Technique. The findings reveal the challenges faced by women
entrepreneurs in Durban, including lack of financial knowledge and management skills,
gender inequality, and limited opportunities for education and productive assets. The
study suggests new feminist philosophies and a conceptual model for policymakers
and women-owned businesses to promote women's economic empowerment.
However, the study's limitations include a limited sample size and reliance on selfreported data. Future research should explore financial knowledge's impact on
women's economic empowerment in other provinces, with larger and more diverse
samples, and employ a mixed-methods approach for a comprehensive understanding
of women entrepreneurs' challenges. Finally, future studies could examine the
effectiveness of specific interventions aimed at increasing financial knowledge and
promoting women's economic empowerment in the context of entrepreneurship
Description
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences Specialising in Business Administration at the Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2023.
Keywords
Financial knowledge, Women Economic Empowerment, Women entrepreneurship, Gender equality
Citation
DOI
https://doi.org/10.51415/10321/4833