Multi-Layer Analysis on Constraints of Budding Women Investors in Share Trading: A Comparative Study of Women Investors Pertaining to Professional and Non-Professional Fields

Abstract

As half the population of the world is constituted by women, their role in economic development is something inevitable. Though they have marked their progress and valuable contributions in all walks of life, their presence in stock market is very much limited. Past researches show that there is a wide gender gap in share trading especially in a developing nation like India. The root cause is that, women undoubtedly face various constraints related to share trading. Therefore, it is imperative to study the influence of these constraints faced by women in share trading, on the resultant outcomes and find possible solutions to it, to improve women participation in this arena. The major intention of the present study is to identify the extent of influence the constraints are causing on the outcomes or the results, and to identify whether there is any difference in its impact on women investors from professional and non-professional working backgrounds in share trading using multi-layer analysis. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire which was distributed among women investors in the district of Ernakulam, who are having professional work background as well as non- professional work background. The study concludes on the note that the constraints influence the outcomes or results significantly, and the most affected are the women investors with non-professional work background. The study offers possible solutions to overcome the issues.