Women and Credit: Researching the Past, Refiguring the Future

Description

Credit can be instrumental in equalizing opportunity and alleviating poverty, yet historically men and women have not had the same access. Partly because of this, women have been excluded from many previous economic histories. This book fills a significant gap in exploring the vexed relationship between the women and credit across time and space. Providing examples of credit agencies and initiatives in both the developing and developed world, Women and Credit raises important policy issues and makes valuable suggestions for reconfiguring the relationship between women and credit. It also answers questions previously ignored by scholars, yet of vital significance to women's studies and economic history. What contribution did women make to the development of industrial capitalism? How does women's access to credit vary across time and cultures? How has the development of mico-credit initiatives affected women's economic position and what role will such initiatives play in the future? This book is an invaluable resource for anyone in the fields of Women's studies, economic history, anthropology or development.

Beverly Lemire Professor of History and University Research Professor,University of New Brunswick, Canada Ruth Pearson Professor of Development Studies, University of Leeds Gail Campbell Professor of History, University of New Brunswick

'The bulk of the book's 17 contributions consist of concise, self-contained case studies - all of which seem to bear the hallmark of judicious editorial work ... Among the most informative and engaging of these is Jayshree Vyas's fascinating account of the evolution of women's banking in India's Self-Employed Women's Association ... Ruth Pearson's concluding chapter offers some perceptive and refreshingly original observations culled from syntheseis of the case studies in the volume as a whole ... Women and Credit should definitely have a place as recommended reading on more general gender courses.' (Sylvia Chant, London School of Economics) 'Women in Credit is a substantial addition to our knowledge of the role of women in exploiting economic opportuntites and niches through the use of credit agencies and other initiatives... [The book] covers a wide area in the fields of credit and microfinance. It explains why projects that provide credit suceed and gives reasons when others do not. The book will be of considerable use to all those involved in planning in developed and less developed communities, as well as bering of general interest to non-professionals.' Development Southern Africa