Women economic empowerment leads towards social innovation in rural setting of Saudi Arabia

This study examines the relationship between women’s economic empowerment and social innovation, focusing on various dimensions of empowerment, including family decision-making, freedom of mobility, political participation, progressive attitudes, and parental background. Using a quantitative approach, the study finds that all hypothesized relationships were significant, with positive effects on social innovation. Family decision-making showed a moderate positive effect (β = 0.361), while freedom of mobility had the strongest influence (β = 0.413). Political participation, progressive attitudes, and parental background also demonstrated significant positive effects on social innovation, with coefficients of β = 0.371, β = 0.286, and β = 0.359, respectively. The results suggest that women’s empowerment across these dimensions plays a crucial role in fostering innovation within communities, emphasizing the importance of supporting women’s autonomy, political engagement, and progressive mindsets. This study contributes to the understanding of how women’s economic empowerment can lead to sustainable social innovation, offering valuable insights for policymakers and organizations seeking to enhance gender equality and promote inclusive, transformative change.