SECTION A: QUESTION ONE
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO BANK SERVICES AND HOUSEHOLD DECISION-MAKING: A CASE OF NAKAWA DIVISION, KAMPALA DISTRICT
Statement of the problem
Classical and neo-classical gender economists (Laslett, 1972, 1982, Magrabi, et al. 1991 and Kabeer, 1997) have acknowledged the relationship between gender relations and decision-making processes in their comparative studies. Besides, Uganda’s financial policy framework conceding to the relationship, promotes financial inclusion for all persons, including women, as a way of improving power relations especially at the household level. Subsequently, the banking industry has responded by targeting women as their clients and renders to them a number of financial services (FinScope, 2018).
However, broader social constraints related to intra-household bargaining power and the social status of women may continue to limit the broader impact of financial inclusion on women’s economic empowerment (Holloway et al, 2017; Habomugisha, 2005; Rutabajjuka, 1994). The extent to which provision of financial services to women has improved on their financial decisions at household level is not only questionable but may exacerbate the already worsening gender relations at a household level (Habomugisha, 2005). The study, therefore, sought to analyse the effect of women’s access to bank services on household decision-making dynamics in Nakawa division, Kampala district.
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The following specific objectives will guide the study; namely to:
1. Establish the bank services accessed by women.
2. Examine women’s household financial decision-making, and
3. Analyse the effect of women’s access to bank services on household financial decision-making.
1.5 Research questions
Research questions that will be useful in achieving the study objectives are;
i. What are the bank services accessed by women?
ii. What are women’s household financial decision-making?
iii. What is the effect of women’s access to bank services on household financial decision-making?
9.0 Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Framework
1.9.1 Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework (Figure 1 below), presupposes that there exists a relationship between women’s access to financial services- taking a bank loan, having savings and acquiring financial literacy skills- as the measures under the independent variables, while household decision-making is the dependent variable. Assumed in the conceptual model is that if women access bank loans, have savings and acquire financial literacy skills, their household decision-making power will increase.
Figure 1: Women’s Access to Financial Services and Household Decision-making
Model
Independent variables Intervening variables Dependent Variables
