Measuring women's empowerment in developing countries: A systematic review

Measurement of women's empowerment has grown over the last few decades, but major challenges still exist for measuring progress in dimensions based on different situational and cultural contexts. This study used a systematic review method to identify quantitative literature related to measures of women's empowerment in developing countries. Features of 17 studies were summarized and compared applying bivariate and text analysis. The most applied dimensions of women's empowerment were household decision making, financial and economic decision making, freedom of movement, self-esteem, and sexual and reproductive decision making. The results of the study contribute to expanding indicators of women's empowerment in developing countries.

Automated summary

Measurement of women's empowerment has seen growth in recent decades, but challenges remain in measuring progress in different situational and cultural contexts. This study used a systematic review to identify quantitative literature on measures of women's empowerment in developing countries, with household decision making, financial and economic decision making, freedom of movement, self-esteem, and sexual and reproductive decision making being the most commonly applied dimensions. These findings contribute to expanding indicators of women's empowerment in developing countries.