IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP THE SOLUTION FOR FEMALE EMPOWERMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Gender inequality remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges in South Africa despite the presence of policy initiatives that target women for empowerment. The lack of consensus in the literature of a reliable and consistent measurement instrument of gender equality also makes it difficult to quantify and analyze female empowerment issues. The objective of the study was to estimate a measure for female empowerment, Gender Status Index, for South Africa and then use the index to analyze the relationship between entrepreneurship, economic growth and female empowerment. Using annual data from 1991 to 2017, an ARDL model of female empowerment (GSI), female entrepreneurship (Total female Self-Employment) and economic growth (Real GDP growth) was estimated. The study found that entrepreneurship has a positive impact on economic empowerment but no significant relationship on political and social empowerment. The study recommends more entrepreneurship institutions for female economic empowerment and ongoing policies initiatives that are more direct toward supporting female empowerment.