2019 Theses Master's

Women’s Empowerment Through the Lens of the Private Sector: Are Corporate Gender Initiatives A Sustainable And Effective Development Tool From A Human Rights Perspective?

Sattar, Tanya

Corporate institutions have pushed the case of women’s rights from a business perspective, promoting the concept of investing in women as a mutually beneficial tool to better the economy and society. The business case for gender equality is integrated across all levels of the private sector, from holistic macro approaches on economic empowerment through corporate culture, to specific products that invest in women. This study will examine the private sector’s role as a responsible global agent. It will determine what is being done in order to promote women’s rights through corporate culture, investments, and products. The cases under review will highlight the disparity between corporate gender initiatives and economic empowerment. This study will also analyze how the private sector defines its role in regards to gender and human rights, whether or not these initiatives could be considered as a tool for gender equality, and if there is an opportunity to advance women’s rights.