Gender Issues in Social Capital

One area social capital literature is weak on is gender (Kilby 2002). Ethnic and gender dimensions of social capital remain under-recognized (Fox and Gershman 2000; Molinas 1998). In the literature, social capital is generally conceptualized gender-blind, paying little attention to gendered intra-household issues of power and hierarchy (Norton 2001; Silvey and Elmhirst 2003). Silvey and Elmhirst (2003) argued that for a more complete picture of social capital, specifically one that includes attention to the gendered and intergenerational conflicts and hierarchies within social networks, and the broader context of gender difference within which social networks are forged. The authors also posited that social capital that exists within a broader context of gender inequality can exacerbate women's disadvantages, as women remain excluded from the more powerful networks of trust and reciprocity that exist among men (Silvey and Elmhirst 2003).

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