Investigation of Mobile Payments aiding Women Microentrepreneurs: Evidence from Rural India

This article delves into the transformative potential of mobile payments for women microentrepreneurs in rural India, focusing on the role of digital financial inclusion in fostering economic growth and social change. The study identifies key characteristics of mobile payments, such as affordability, availability, ease of operability, and safety, and explores how these features interact with the agencies of women microentrepreneurs to generate affordances and overcome constraints. Through in-depth interviews with 35 women microentrepreneurs, the research reveals the process by which mobile payments contribute to financial well-being and entrepreneurial identity. The findings highlight the importance of digital skills, financial literacy, and business environment awareness as agencies that enable women to leverage mobile payments effectively. The article also discusses the implications of these findings for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, emphasizing the need for further research on the gendered nature of technology use and the potential of digital financial literacy in promoting economic empowerment.