Women’s Empowerment And Family Economic Resilience: A Case Study Of Rural Communities In Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Rural women often serve as critical economic actors, yet their roles remain under-recognized in development policies. While global scholarship has highlighted women’s empowerment in urban and industrial sectors, limited attention is paid to how rural women’s community-based initiatives contribute to sustaining family economies.

Purpose: This study investigates the role of rural women in supporting household economic resilience and explores how empowerment programs and social capital strengthen their contributions.

Method: A qualitative case study was conducted in two rural villages in Indonesia, involving in-depth interviews with 20 women participants, local leaders, and community facilitators, complemented by observations and document analysis.

Results: Findings reveal that rural women play a dual role as income earners and household managers. Empowerment initiatives—such as skills training, microfinance, and cooperative groups—enhance their economic agency. Social capital, particularly trust and reciprocity within women’s groups, enables collective strategies for managing household needs and coping with economic shocks. However, structural challenges, including limited market access and gendered cultural expectations, constrain their full potential.

Conclusion: This study contributes to the literature by linking women’s empowerment, social capital, and rural economic resilience. Practically, it underscores the importance of community-based interventions and supportive policies that recognize and strengthen women’s roles as pillars of the family economy.