Gender equity & human development

Area of Science:

• Socioeconomics
• Gender Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• India faces widespread rural distress due to agricultural economic collapse and structural adjustments.
• Competition from large enterprises exacerbates livelihood loss in rural areas.
• Inadequate public services and safety nets deepen socioeconomic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the adverse impact of rural distress on women's endowments, livelihood opportunities, and nutritional outcomes.
• To analyze changes in gender gaps using specific indicators across two time periods (mid-1990s and early 2000s).
• To assess the overall trend in gender equality in the context of rural and urban India.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and data on rural distress in India.
• Analysis of chosen welfare and survival indicators at two distinct time points.
• Computation of a gender equality index to quantify disparities.

Main Results:

• The gender gap has widened across multiple livelihood indicators, including literacy, unemployment, and wages.
• Survival indicators like juvenile sex ratio, infant mortality, and child labor show deterioration for women relative to men.
• While gender gaps narrowed in life expectancy and literacy, these improvements were insufficient to offset widening gaps in other critical areas.

Conclusions:

• Rural distress in India has a more adverse impact on women, leading to an overall widening of the gender gap.
• The findings indicate a concerning trend of increasing gender inequality in both rural and urban contexts.
• Addressing the specific vulnerabilities of women is crucial for achieving equitable human welfare in India.