Although Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) to poor women may provide an opportunity to utilize their capabilities in spending without any coercion but the intra-household gender power relations affect their freedom to decide independently. This study aims to understand women’s empowerment in the context of the effectiveness of UCT under Benazir Income Support Program in Pakistan. It covers three main aspects: i) how do UCT affect women’s household activities; ii) what are their effects on access to and control over resources and decision making and iii) how do gender relations interact with heterogeneity of women for their empowerment. The study unveils relevant factors like women’s personal identity, age, marital status, class, ethnicity, assets, socialization and socio-economic background which influence women’s capability to negotiate with their husband for decision making in household matters. The research also explores that neither ‘UCT income’ nor ‘employment income’ of women alone have their effects on enhancing their bargaining power for decision making unless the causal factors are addressed while formulating national policies and programs.

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Siegmann , Karin Astrid
hdl.handle.net/2105/10805
Population Poverty and Social Development (PPSD)
International Institute of Social Studies

Arshad, Muhammad. (2011, December 15). Does Money Matter for Women’s Empowerment? A Study of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) Pakistan. Population Poverty and Social Development (PPSD). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2105/10805