As India strives to improve overall social and economic conditions and gender relations through policies such as the abolishment of dowry, increasing the legal age at marriage, and promoting educational opportunities for girls, serious challenges remain, especially in rural areas. Gender Equality and Inequality in Rural India focuses on the extent to which economic development has resulted in positive changes in women's empowerment and reproductive health, as well as in sex preference. Based on a study from a village in Maharashtra where impressive gains in economic development have occurred in recent decades, Carol Vlassoff examines the impact of son preference on fertility and rural women's economic empowerment and other aspects of reproductive behavior. She provides evidence of the added value of their employment beyond the traditional wage labor and domestic spheres, and argues that policies aimed at closing gender gaps in social inequalities must be complemented by policies fostering employment opportunities for women. While many studies have demonstrated the importance of social empowerment for improved reproductive health, this is the first to separate out the differential effects of social and economic factors. This work goes even further than economic arguments by demonstrating, on the basis of a robust statistical analysis, that women's education and their professional labor force participation contribute to better health and wellbeing of rural society, including through reductions in fertility, son preference, and infant and child mortality.
Exploring the unintentional production of seemingly feminist outcomes In India, elite law firms offer a surprising oasis for women within a hostile, predominantly male industry. Less than 10 percent of the country’s lawyers are female, but women in the most prestigious firms are significantly represented both at entry and partnership. Elite workspaces are notorious for being unfriendly to new actors, so what allows for aberration in certain workspaces? Drawing from observations and interviews with more than 130 elite professionals, Accidental Feminism examines how a range of underlying mechanisms—gendered socialization and essentialism, family structures and dynamics, and firm and regulatory histories—afford certain professionals egalitarian outcomes that are not available to their local and global peers. Juxtaposing findings on the legal profession with those on elite consulting firms, Swethaa Ballakrishnen reveals that parity arises not from a commitment to create feminist organizations, but from structural factors that incidentally come together to do gender differently. Simultaneously, their research offers notes of caution: while conditional convergence may create equality in ways that more targeted endeavors fail to achieve, “accidental” developments are hard to replicate, and are, in this case, buttressed by embedded inequalities. Ballakrishnen examines whether gender parity produced without institutional sanction should still be considered feminist. In offering new ways to think about equality movements and outcomes, Accidental Feminism forces readers to critically consider the work of intention in progress narratives.
Inspired by egalitarian doctrines, the Dalit communities in India have been fighting for basic human and civic rights since the middle of the nineteenth century. In this book, Shailaja Paik focuses on the struggle of Dalit women in one arena - the realm of formal education – and examines a range of interconnected social, cultural and political questions. What did education mean to women? How did changes in women’s education affect their views of themselves and their domestic work, public employment, marriage, sexuality, and childbearing and rearing? What does the dissonance between the rhetoric and practice of secular education tell us about the deeper historical entanglement with modernity as experienced by Dalit communities? Dalit Women's Education in Modern India is a social and cultural history that challenges the triumphant narrative of modern secular education to analyse the constellation of social, economic, political and historical circumstances that both opened and closed opportunities to many Dalits. By focusing on marginalised Dalit women in modern Maharashtra, who have rarely been at the centre of systematic historical enquiry, Paik breathes life into their ideas, expectations, potentials, fears and frustrations. Addressing two major blind spots in the historiography of India and of the women’s movement, she historicises Dalit women’s experiences and constructs them as historical agents. The book combines archival research with historical fieldwork, and centres on themes including slum life, urban middle classes, social and sexual labour, and family, marriage and children to provide a penetrating portrait of the actions and lives of Dalit women. Elegantly conceived and convincingly argued, Dalit Women's Education in Modern India will be invaluable to students of History, Caste Politics, Women and Gender Studies, Education Studies, Urban Studies and Asian studies.
This book provides an invaluable analysis of the current trends of the debate on Uniform Civil Code located within a highly charged and communally vitiated political scenario. It goes on to expose the communal undertones of some recent well published judicial pronouncements.
This paper examines the determinants of female labor force participation in India, against the backdrop of India having one of the lowest participation rates for women among peer countries. Using extensive Indian household survey data, we model the labor force participation choices of women, conditional on demographic characteristics and education, as well as looking at the influence of state-level labor market flexibility and other state policies. Our main finding is that a number of policy initiatives can help boost female economic participation in the states of India, including increased labor market flexibility, investment in infrastructure, and enhanced social spending.
The status of women is how the society perceives a women and not what it should be. Women at every stage are deprived of opportunities because of their sexuality. This book is a small step towards the realization of the fragrance called woman and to accept the Kasturithat is the inherent qualityof a woman. India is our motherland and we belong to it. It is high time that we learn to give our women respect and treat them with dignity they deserve. Women are the pillars of any society and the foundation stone of any family. Now they should be accepted as such with all their innate abilities, talents, qualitiesand more than that as 'Women' - a wonderful creation blessed with the power of creation and the power to reproduce and replicate. I hope any small step towards the realization of this concept would bealong step in changing the mindset of all our self-acclaimed social gurus and custodians of dharma and fatwas in treating women as equal partners in the growth of the nation, family and children – an asset which cannot be treated lightly. Gender Inequality In India by Mamta Mahrotra: "Gender Inequality In India: Challenging Social Norms" is a thought-provoking book by Mamta Mahrotra that critically examines the issue of gender inequality in India. Drawing on research, case studies, and personal narratives, the book sheds light on the systemic barriers, social norms, and cultural biases that perpetuate gender disparities. It calls for collective action and societal transformation to achieve gender equality and empower women. Key Aspects of the Book "Gender Inequality In India: Challenging Social Norms": Systemic Analysis: "Gender Inequality In India" provides a systemic analysis of the factors contributing to gender inequality. It explores social, economic, and political dimensions, dissecting the patriarchal structures, gender roles, and discriminatory practices that hinder women's progress and perpetuate inequality. Case Studies and Personal Narratives: The book incorporates case studies and personal narratives that highlight the lived experiences of women affected by gender inequality. These stories bring a human face to the issue, fostering empathy and understanding while illustrating the diverse challenges faced by women in different spheres of life. Call for Transformation: "Gender Inequality In India" advocates for societal transformation to challenge and overcome gender disparities. It emphasizes the importance of collective action, policy reforms, and changing cultural attitudes to create a more inclusive and equitable society. The book aims to inspire readers to actively participate in the movement for gender equality. Mamta Mahrotra, a passionate advocate for gender equality, delves into the complex issue of gender inequality in "Gender Inequality In India: Challenging Social Norms." With a deep understanding of the social, cultural, and systemic factors at play, Mahrotra presents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by women in India. Her book serves as a call to action, urging readers to confront and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate gender inequality. "Gender Inequality In India" invites individuals, policymakers, and society at large to work together towards creating a more just and inclusive world, where women have equal opportunities and their rights are fully realized. Q
Feminsim as a fast evolving politcal ideology investigates and conceptualizes gender based oppression which primarily has its roots in gender construction within the given society.Genital attribution along with expectation and value attached to role behaviour categorizes 'humans' into males and females.Actually Patriarchy stems from the intention of non recognition of women's worth as important creatures of earth whose physical creative activity both in reproduction and production of materials stands devalued in futile comparasion with men.Witnessing the culture of inferiority, punjabi society is facing the issues of female foeticide, denial of seva and NRI runaway grooms. Punjabi women leadership is traditional, underweight and negociated.Although being women is being strong for Punjabi women leaders even then a blunt woman leader is considered 'manly'.lay woman and woman leader both reel under patriarchal politics and society.Nature's mechanism of replication through union of male and female is universal and hence unavoidable, so stopping fixation of roles either into highly or lowly valued category will surely bring heavy relief.
Shortlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award A Financial Times Best Business Book of the Year A Times Higher Education Book of the Week Best Business Book of the Year, 800-CEO-READ Gender equality is a moral and a business imperative. But unconscious bias holds us back, and de-biasing people’s minds has proven to be difficult and expensive. By de-biasing organizations instead of individuals, we can make smart changes that have big impacts. Presenting research-based solutions, Iris Bohnet hands us the tools we need to move the needle in classrooms and boardrooms, in hiring and promotion, benefiting businesses, governments, and the lives of millions. “Bohnet assembles an impressive assortment of studies that demonstrate how organizations can achieve gender equity in practice...What Works is stuffed with good ideas, many equally simple to implement.” —Carol Tavris, Wall Street Journal “A practical guide for any employer seeking to offset the unconscious bias holding back women in organizations, from orchestras to internet companies.” —Andrew Hill, Financial Times
