RISK PERCEPTION, MINDSET, AND INVESTMENT CHALLENGES OF WORKING WOMEN IN NAGPUR’S CAPITAL MARKET

Abstract

The presence of women in the capital markets in India has been increasing gradually; however, the working women continue to be victim to various issues occasioned by their risk perception, financial rationality and socio-economic circumstances. The paper will discuss the relationship between risk perception and the investment mentality and the actual issue of working women in Nagpur when they would like to risk their money in the capital market. The data obtained by a mixed approach was responses of 200 working women who work in different fields in Nagpur where a sample survey of structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews has been conducted. They say that the risk tolerance, financial knowledge, confidence in argumentative courses and barriers to investment like time, lack of information and social bias are of top priority and influence the process of decisionmaking about investment and they are cited as the important variables in the study. The findings show that female participants who are positively oriented concerning financial matters and more risk-takers will be most likely to participate and diversify their investment. The paper also emphasizes the importance of pertinent financial literacy programs and empowering investment atmospheres to enhance women participation as well as empowerment in the investment markets. The implications of the research are useful to the financial institutions, the policymakers and the education programs which form a bridge in the development of the gender gap in financial investments.