Gender Disparity in Functionality and Consequence of Microfinance: Does it Function Currently?

Abstract

This study has been designed to represent gender disparity in different issues like adequacy of loan amount, rate of interest, formalities to take loan and consequence of microfinance in poverty alleviation. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools have been used to test our research hypothesis. This study reveals that there is a significant perceptional difference between male and female respondents regarding adequacy of loan amount, rate of interest, formalities to take loan. Although female respondents have more positive attitude regarding adequacy of loan amount, rate of interest, formalities to take loan than that of men, they are less positive relating to poverty alleviation as a consequence of microfinance than that of male respondents. The findings of this study urge that if the macro-economic policymakers don’t upgrade existing development policies, the socio-economic barriers of the women keep them behind in accruing and using microfinance to reduce their poverty.