Women’s Empowerment and Challenges through Waste Recycling Entrepreneurship in Lagos State, Nigeria: A Qualitative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59890/ijist.v4i10.79Keywords:
Women’s Empowerment, Waste Recycling, Women Entrepreneurs, Circular Economy, Entrepreneurial Agency, Livelihoods, Lagos State, NigeriaAbstract
Women’s participation in waste recycling can create livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities, yet participation does not necessarily translate into meaningful economic and social empowerment. This study examines women’s empowerment through waste recycling entrepreneurship in Lagos State, Nigeria, focusing on access to productive resources, entrepreneurial agency, decision-making, livelihood outcomes, social recognition, and the structural constraints shaping women’s experiences. The study adopted a qualitative research design guided by Kabeer’s resources–agency–achievements framework. The findings identified eight major themes: motivations for entering waste recycling entrepreneurship; access to resources; entrepreneurial agency and decision-making; economic empowerment and livelihood outcomes; social empowerment and recognition; gender-based constraints and discrimination; occupational safety and working conditions; and institutional and policy support. The findings showed that waste recycling provides women with income, livelihood support, entrepreneurial opportunities, business networks and, for some participants, greater autonomy. However, limited access to finance, equipment, storage, training and markets constrains enterprise growth and movement into higher-value recycling activities. Gender-based harassment, household constraints, restricted control over income, occupational hazards and inadequate institutional support further limit empowerment outcomes. The study recommends integrated gender-responsive interventions combining finance, technology, skills development, market linkages, occupational safety, and institutional protection to transform women’s participation in recycling into sustainable and empowering entrepreneurship.
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