Paper short abstract:

This paper investigates gender-based segregation across different fields of study at the post-secondary level of schooling, and how that affects subsequent labour market outcomes of men and women in India.

Paper long abstract:

This paper investigates gender-based segregation across different fields of study at the post-secondary level of schooling, and how that affects subsequent labour market outcomes of men and women. Using a nationally representative longitudinal data-set from India, we provide evidence that there is substantial intra-household gender disparity in the choice of study stream at the higher-secondary level of education. A household fixed effects regression shows that girls are 20 percentage points less likely than boys to study in technical streams, namely science (STEM) and commerce, vis-à-vis arts or humanities. This gender disparity is not driven by gender specific differences in mathematical ability, as the gap remains large and significant even after controlling for individuals' past test scores. Our further analysis on working-age individuals suggests that technical stream choice at higher-secondary level significantly affects the gender gap in labour market outcomes in adult life, including labour force participation, nature of employment, and earnings. Thus our findings reveal how gender disparity in economic outcomes at a later stage in the life-course is affected by gendered trajectories set earlier in life, especially at the school level.

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Paper short abstract:

Analysing the power dynamics of money management in rural extended households in contemporary Nepal, we found that junior wives and husbands often became secret allies in seeking financial autonomy from their in-laws and renegotiating the terms of Kandiyoti's (1988) 'patriarchal bargain'.

Paper long abstract:

Although power struggles between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law in the South Asian household remain an enduring theme of feminist scholarship, current policy discourse on 'women's economic empowerment' in the Global South has tended to focus on women's power in their spousal relationship to the neglect of intergenerational power dynamics. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse such power dynamics concerning money management in the contemporary rural Nepali household. We conducted a grounded theory study of 42 households from the Plains of Nepal involving semi-structured interviews with 15 mothers-in-law, 3 elder sisters-in-law, 22 junior daughters-in-law, and 20 husbands. Our study uncovered multiple ways in which junior wives and husbands in the extended household became secret allies in seeking financial autonomy from the rule of the in-laws. Most prominently, husbands sometimes secretly transferred part of their income to their wife to save up for a household separation from the in-laws. Anticipating such a move by the junior couple, extended household members closely policed the junior couple's access to cash, which only further strengthened their incentive to separate. We argue these secret financial strategies constitute a means for daughters-in-law to renegotiate the terms of Kandiyoti's (1988) 'patriarchal bargain' wherein junior wives traditionally had to accept subservience to their husband and mother-in-law in exchange for economic security and eventual authority over their own daughter-in-law. Researchers, activists and policy-makers concerned with women's economic empowerment in South Asia should consider the impact of intergenerational power relations and unexpected allies on women's control over cash.

Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the impact of community level socio-political hierarchies in dictating the abilities for women and girls to exploit off-grid energy projects for productive uses. This is based on ethnographic fieldwork in rural east India, at the site of one of India's first "smart" micro-grids.

Paper long abstract:

Drawing from extended ethnographic fieldwork in eastern India, this paper explores the socio-politics around community scale micro-grids. It presents a case study of one of India's first "smart" solar micro-grids to explore how socio-political hierarchies of gender and caste (and their intersections) interact with energy systems on a community level. It analyses how existing wider social structures, which often marginalise and oppress women and girls, can be mapped onto patterns of control and usage of distributed electricity projects, thereby replicating and reinforcing existing patterns of disempowerment. The paper will present the ways in which this can prevent women, and other marginalised social groupings, from exploiting productive opportunities associated with energy projects. In the case study to be presented, the key aim was for households and individuals across the community to be able to utilise the micro-grid for increased economic opportunity. This paper will interrogate some of the design and implementation practises that compromised the potential for women to make use of the micro-grid. This paper will also explore the intersectional aspects of gender and community identity and their relation to productive use of energy, by which the experience of women is not a single, universal experience.

This case study focuses on off-grid, community scale energy interventions. However, the outputs from it, in terms of understanding the nuance of existing social structure and anticipating how energy projects will reinforce these structures, are crucial to understanding how energy projects can be better leveraged to deliver equitable opportunities for women and marginalised users.

Paper short abstract:

The Indian Census 2001-2011 show a decrease in the sex ratio. Approximately 12 million girls were lost, largely due to sex selective abortions, infanticide and other forms of neglect. This paper explores the 'He and She' approach adopted by an organisation in Haryana to halt the sex ratio decline.

Paper long abstract:

The 2011 Indian Census showed the child (0-6 years) sex ratio to be 918 girls to 1000 boys, representing a decrease from 927 in 2001. The estimate, therefore, is that approximately 12 million girls were lost, largely due to sex selective abortions, female infanticide, and other forms of neglect. Macro level interventions include the PC-PNDT Act, national campaign to empower women and the anti-dowry act since 1961. Financial burdens of dowry are seen as key drivers for foeticide. Within these three broad intervention streams there is a network of vibrant think tanks and civil society organisations that continue in their tireless efforts. The declining sex ratio though remains tenacious.

'Save the Girl Child' project run by Child Reach India (CRI) was launched in 2012 to combat this trend in Hissar, Haryana, the state with the country's lowest sex ratio, 834 in the 2011 census. CRI focuses on empowering the declining half and creating a conducive social environment. The aim is to increase the value placed upon girls and women in the community. It does so through a 'saturation approach', which considers all members of the community as stakeholders - adolescent girls and boys, mothers, mothers-in-law, young and elderly men. This 'He and She' model is insightful given the deep-rooted intergenerational prevalence of male child preference in the Indian society. Additionally, it offers new dimensions to the newly emerging literature on the UN's 'HeForShe' campaign.

This paper is based on the evaluation of the project that took place during 2015.

Paper short abstract:

The paper explores role of women's collectives and recent prohibition policy in curbing alcoholism in the state of Bihar in India. While alcohol intake itself has existed in rural India for centuries, current consumption pattern is becoming an increasing cause of social and economic problems.

Paper long abstract:

The state of Bihar in India imposed prohibition on both country-made as well as Indian made foreign liquor in 2016. The legislative assembly then swiftly passed a stringent law that would help the government to enforce its total prohibition policy. The modus operandi of this new legislation is collective punishment. Thereby implying that all adult members of a family are liable to prosecution if liquor is found on their premises or one of them is suspected to have consumed it. Prosecution could be through a fine, jail sentence or confiscation of land.

Prior to the prohibition policy, a longitudinal study of 240 Jeevika Self Help Group (SHG) women in rural Bihar in 2009, 2011 and 2013 conducted by the author found alcoholism to be one of the major social problems in the villages studied. Excessive alcohol consumption is widely prevalent amongst the male members in the villages. While alcohol consumption itself has existed in rural India for centuries, the recent consumption pattern and the resulting social problems have been an increasing cause for concern (Dutta et al. 2014). Locally brewed alcohol is often adulterated and can lead to poisoning and death. Intoxicated men routinely abuse their wives and children resulting in high levels of domestic violence. Alcohol addiction also drains the savings of the family with health, education and nutrition of children being the first casualties.

This paper explores whether women's SHGs in rural Bihar have engaged with the state policy to seek support in curbing alcoholism in their villages.