Stigma of sexual violence and women's decision to work. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chakraborty, Tanika; Mukherjee, Anirban; Rachapalli, Swapnika Reddy; Saha, Sarani
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 103(2018)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: E24 -- J16 -- J18; Crime-against-women -- Labor-force-participation -- Stigma-cost; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.10.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: Perception of crime against women deters women's work force participation in India. Social stigma attached to rape plays a crucial role in the deterrence. Deterrence effect of crime is stronger for women from conservative families. Deterrence effect of crime is stronger for women earning low wage. Deterrence effect of crime is an urban phenomenon where women travel to work. Abstract: Our study is motivated by two disturbing evidences concerning women in India. On one hand, crime against women is on the rise while on the other, women's labor force participation rate (WLFPR) has been declining over the last three decades. We estimate the extent to which the decline in WLFPR can be assigned to increasing instances of crime against women. We argue that an increase in crime against women, increases the non-pecuniary costs of traveling to work, particularly in a traditional society marked by stigma against victims of sexual crimes. Our findings suggest that women are less likely to work away from home in regions where the perceived threat of sexual harassment against girls is higher. The estimate is robust to various sensitivity checks. Moreover, the deterrence effect of crime responds to the opportunity cost of work on one hand and the stigma cost of sexual crimes on the other.