Do Microfinance Programs Impact the Construction of Gender Relations in the Lives of Women Borrowers? An Investigation in Bangladesh

This study uses sociological theories of gendered behavior to explore the impact of microfinance as a development intervention on women’s empowerment processes in Bangladesh. A mixed-method research design was used to analyze data from a survey (N= 331) and in-depth interviews (N= 40) with microfinance-recipient women, their husbands, as well as staff of microfinance institutions (MFIs). This study found that participation in microfinance programs did not alter gender norms nor empower women within their household or economically. The inter-generational reproduction of gender norms reaffirms men’s dominance over women in the household, including financial decision-making.