Investigating Determinants of Declining Participation of Women in Uttar Pradesh Rural: An Inter-District Analysis

By : Nomita P. Kumar, Kavita Baliyan

Page No: 439-453

Abstract
The paper presents trends in growth of workforce and changes in its structure using census data from the last several decades in Uttar Pradesh. It is an attempt to highlight the relative performance in the present decade as compared to the 1980s and 1990s, for which we have comparable data. Precisely, the objectives are to examine trends, patterns and factors propelling / discouraging women to participate in workforce in rural Uttar Pradesh and is understood with the help of social and religious factors, land rights, agricultural income and education. The study highlights that women employment in rural Uttar Pradesh has been continuously declining, possibly, for the following reasons: firstly, women participation in the labour market is driven due to distress conditions; secondly, they find working conditions either unsafe or unsuitable due to increase in crimes against women in recent times; and thirdly, social norms restrict their entry into the job market (Bhattacharya and Goyal, 2017). Studies suggest that by improving their access to land and productive resources, providing them decent work opportunities and prioritising their education and skills training will collectively lead to the improvement of women’s socioeconomic status (Bhattacharya and Goyal, 2017) along with empowering them.

Authors :
Nomita P. Kumar : Assistant Professor (Senior Scale), Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow.
Kavita Baliyan : Assistant Professor, Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/PROD.2021.61.04.7