Emerge: Measurement tools for Gender Equality and Empowerment
Principal Researchers:
Dr. Mythri Prasad and Dr. Swati Dutta
Theme: Gender and Development
Sponsors: Centre on Gender Equity & Health, University of California, San Diego as part of a project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
Aims & Objectives: Measuring autonomy is an important tool to understand gender inequality and empowerment. The study measured autonomy of women in terms of their control over personal decisions, domain specific autonomy and the ability to change aspects of their life at the personal and community level. The study focused on married women from households that have middle to high income in urban areas. This exclusive focus allowed the research team to understand deeper layers of gender norms and structures that are in operation and the conditions that contribute to its strengthening or weakening among the emerging middle classes in India.
Methodology: A Relative Autonomy Index (RAI) on the basis of self‐perception and evaluation of women regarding their capacity to act autonomously was calculated. The second conceptual move in the study was regarding the ambient traits that are conducive to weakening gender norms. These characteristics were divided into three: family traits, peer groups traits and ease of conversion between social and economic capitals. The presence and absence of these traits were measured using Multiple Correspondences Analysis.
Recommendation: This project contributed to efforts at measuring women’s empowerment and gender equity. By focusing on middle and upper class women, the effort was made to address questions regarding deeper and more pervasive layers of patriarchal norms and practices to improve understanding of pathways between empowerment, agency and autonomy. The study was a step towards constructing valid and robust measures of empowerment of women that addresses the Indian context.
Prof. Alakh N. Sharma
Director
Prof. Ravi S. Srivastava
Professor and Director
Centre for Employment Studies
Dr. G.C. Manna
Professor
Dr. Sandeep Sarkar
Professor
Dr. Balwant Singh Mehta
Fellow
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- Exploring the ‘Witch Question’ in Changing Socio‐Economic and Political Context in Selected States
in India | View Project >> - UN Women‐supported Project ‘Programme on Women’s Political, Social and Economic Empowerment | View Project >>
- Study to Assess Shifts and Changes in Time Use Patterns among Women in Bihar | View Project >>
- Women Entrepreneurs in the New Indian Middle Class: Macro and Micro Perspectives (Collaboration between IRMA and IHD) | View Project >>
- Status of Social Protection of Girl Child in Jharkhand: A study | View Project >>
- Impact of ‘Digital India’ on Women Empowerment in Rural India | View Project >>
- Emerge: Measurement tools for Gender Equality and Empowerment | View Project >>
- Violence against Women in Private Realms in India: A Study in Rural Areas of Four Selected State | View Project >>
- Upgrading Skills of Construction Women Workers in Ranchi: An Impact Assessment Study (Baseline Assessment) | View Project >>
Development with Global Value Chains: Upgrading and Innovation in Asia
Editors: Dev Nathan, Meenu Tewari and Sandip Sarkar
Published: 2017 by Cambridge University Press India and IHD
Growth and Inequality The Contrasting Trajectories of India and Brazil
By Alexandre de Freitas Barbosa & Maria Cristina Cacciamali & Gerry Rodgers
Published: 2017 by Cambridge University Press India
Employment, Social Protection, and Inclusive Growth in South Asia
Edited by: Dev Nathan and Akhilesh K. Sharma, Foreword by: Alakh N. Sharma
Published: 2017 by South Asia Press
India Employment Report 2016: Challenges and the Imperative of Manufacturing-Led Growth
By Ajit Ghose
Published: 2016 by Oxford University Press and IHD
India Labour and Employment Report 2014
Published: 2014 by Academic Foundation and IHD
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