Women’s entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as an important pathway for economic empowerment, employment generation, household resilience, and sustainable development. Home Science, traditionally associated with household and family management, has developed into a multidisciplinary field encompassing food and nutrition, textiles and apparel, human development, resource management, consumer studies, health, communication, and community development. These areas provide women with practical and scientific skills that can be transformed into innovative products and services. This paper examines the potential of Home Science as a foundation for women entrepreneurship, with particular emphasis on innovation, self-reliance, skill development, digital technology, food processing, textiles, sustainability, and institutional support. A narrative review of literature published through 2025 indicates that women entrepreneurs continue to face barriers involving access to finance, markets, technology, digital skills, networks, and social expectations. At the same time, evidence suggests that skill development, self-help groups, digital platforms, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship education can strengthen women's economic participation. Home Science has particular potential because it combines technical knowledge with practical applications that can often be initiated at household or community level. Food processing, nutrition-related services, tailoring, sustainable textiles, handicrafts, childcare, wellness products, and digital businesses are examples of possible enterprises. The paper argues that Home Science education should increasingly integrate entrepreneurship, financial literacy, branding, digital marketing, business planning, food safety, quality control, and innovation. Such integration can transform practical knowledge into sustainable enterprises and contribute to women's self-reliance. However, entrepreneurship should not be viewed as an individual responsibility alone; supportive financial, institutional, technological, and social environments are necessary for sustainable enterprise development.
Keywords : women entrepreneurship, Home Science, innovation, self-reliance, women empowerment, skill development, food processing, textiles, digital entrepreneurship, rural entrepreneurship
Author : Dr. Chhaya Bhimdeo Bhakare
Title : WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH HOME SCIENCE: INNOVATION AND SELF-RELIANCE
Volume/Issue : 2025;02(12)
Page No : 312-321