Weak ties: a mechanism for helping women expand their social networks and increase their capital

Abstract

This paper proposes a model for helping women expand their opportunities by using weak ties. It discusses social support networks and their impact on women’s ability to expand their social connections and increase access to opportunities, resources, and jobs, thus supporting the importance of whom one knows. It presents the context in which women seek opportunities and presents “weak ties” as a mechanism for helping women to move beyond their immediate social networks to connect to persons with diverse resources. It discusses human, social, cultural, political, and economic capital and suggests ways women can increase these forms of capital in a model that suggests incorporating opportunities for women to come together and help each other to identify and utilize resources.