Discourses on social capital are many and varied and span the fields of psychology, economics, sociology and political science. However, there is growing consensus that, as Michael Woolcock holds, ‘social capital refers to the norms and networks that facilitate collective action’. Within this context, there is currently considerable interest in the role of social capital in society and, in particular, its potential to foster national development. This is evidenced both in academia and among development practitioners.

In keeping with the primacy of gender in socio-economic development issues, the gender-related dimension of social capital is one of the emerging themes in discussions of the subject. Of major importance in this regard is whether gender constitutes a principal determinant in the possession of social capital and if so, what are the differences observed between men and women in respect of this attribute. The family as the main source of economic and social welfare has been identified as the first building block in the generation of social capital for the larger society. Women as primary caregivers are seen as playing a critical role in the process. It is argued for example, that an individual’s capacity to trust is rooted in the mother-child relationship.

Studies (e.g. based on Brazil) have also indicated that there are substantial differences in men’s and women’s networks, particularly in respect of composition; that men belong to more formal networks reflecting their employment status, while women have more informal networks which are centred around family and kin. And, based on findings, e.g. from China, capital inequality leads to socio-economic inequality. Differentials in social networks, argues Kabeer [1996], have also been shown to translate into differences in access to information and economic circumstances. In the Jamaican, as well as wider Caribbean context, women are heavily involved in civil society groups including a range of community-based organisations, but men in the society tend to have more powerful formal networks, many of which are business oriented. Although many observers have often pointed to the impact of the “Old Boys” networks and elite business clubs on men’s economic fortunes, there are no systematic studies that document these linkages.

This papers seeks to fill the void by exploring the proposition that women in the Caribbean have more bonding social capital (characterised by strong bonds e.g. among family members or among members of an ethnic group; good for ‘getting by’) while men have more bridging social capital (characterised by weaker, less dense but more cross-cutting ties e.g. with business associates, acquaintances, friends from different ethnic groups, friends of friends, etc; good for ‘getting ahead’). Major concerns include the need to accurately operationalise the concept and formulate accurate measurement instruments. The methodology adopted in this study draws upon instruments that have been developed by the World Bank Social Thematic Group for general applicability and have been tested in developing countries. Elements of instruments employed as part of national statistical systems in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America have also been utilized. One of the objectives of the research is the adaptation of these instruments to take into account Caribbean specificities and the development of a model for use in the region.