Women Education Health and Mobility Status

Contents: 1. Introduction to Gender Issues. 2. Patriarchal Approach to Women’s Education. 3. Economic Approaches to Women’s Education. 4. Externalities from Investment in Women’s Education. 5. Patriarchal System and Women’s Health, Education and Work Participation. 6. Human Capital Approach to Women’s Health and Nutrition. 7. Approaches to Women’s Mobility. 8. Discrimination against Women in the Labour Market. 9. Access to Resources by Men and Women. 10. Is Girl Child an Inferior Good? 11. Conclusions and Policy Prescriptions. Bibliography. Index.

Investment in human capital has been emphasized by economists from Adam Smith to Amartya Sen. It is now agreed that improvements in education, nutrition, and health of the population do significantly and positively influence economic growth and factor productivity.

The position and status of women in the Indian society could be viewed by the voice they have in decision-making in terms of education and health needs of the family. Unfortunately, Indian women fare poorly, especially in rural areas, on this score. Women receive little educational and healthcare services in comparison to men.

The institution of patriarchy helps to understand the intra-household altruistic relationships that create an ideology of under-investment in girls. In addition, even if education is imparted to the girls, it is often of inferior quality. Parents derive greater satisfaction from the economic success of their sons than daughters.

This book provides an in-depth account and analysis of the status of women in Indian society, particularly in terms of education, health and labour mobility. (jacket)