Indian Journal of Economics and Development

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Women Agency in India:What Really Matters?


Affiliations
1 Department of Geography, Department of Geography, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, India
 

Objective: The study seeks to discuss the factors affecting the agency of Indian married women within the household, using unit level Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) – II data (2011-12). There are individual and societal level factors that favourably or unfavourably affect women’s autonomy. The effects of age at the time of gauna, gender composition of children, purdah system, caste, religion, type of residence and exogamy on women autonomy are assessed after controlling for education level, wealth status, employment status and literacy status of parents, husband and in-laws.

Statistical Analysis: Ordinal logistic regression technique has been used to study the impact on decision making ability in the household and mobility of women.

Findings/Application: The results point to the significant differences among religious groups, however, the caste groups do not reveal any significant differences with respect to women autonomy. Education and employment status turn out to be favourable factors for women agency though education level fails to make significant impact on the bargaining power of women in the household.


Keywords

Women Agency, Bargaining Power, Mobility of Women, Autonomy.
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  • S. Begum, Binayak S. Maternal health, child well-being and chronic poverty: does women’s agency matters? The Bangladesh Development Studies.2009; 32(4), 69-93.

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Abstract Views: 289

PDF Views: 207




  • Women Agency in India:What Really Matters?

Abstract Views: 289  |  PDF Views: 207

Authors

Neha Verma
Department of Geography, Department of Geography, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, India
Madhur Ajmani Sethi
Department of Geography, Department of Geography, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, India
Seema Mehra Parihar
Department of Geography, Department of Geography, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, India

Abstract


Objective: The study seeks to discuss the factors affecting the agency of Indian married women within the household, using unit level Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) – II data (2011-12). There are individual and societal level factors that favourably or unfavourably affect women’s autonomy. The effects of age at the time of gauna, gender composition of children, purdah system, caste, religion, type of residence and exogamy on women autonomy are assessed after controlling for education level, wealth status, employment status and literacy status of parents, husband and in-laws.

Statistical Analysis: Ordinal logistic regression technique has been used to study the impact on decision making ability in the household and mobility of women.

Findings/Application: The results point to the significant differences among religious groups, however, the caste groups do not reveal any significant differences with respect to women autonomy. Education and employment status turn out to be favourable factors for women agency though education level fails to make significant impact on the bargaining power of women in the household.


Keywords


Women Agency, Bargaining Power, Mobility of Women, Autonomy.

References