Social inequalities and inherent disadvantages in asset holding among Indian women. (13th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saha, Rimon; Thapa, Namrata; Lama, Ladenla
• Is Part Of: International journal of gender studies in developing societies. Volume 4:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 339
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2022-09-13
• Subjects: intra-gender inequality -- caste-based deprivation -- residential disadvantages -- religious disadvantages -- wealth inequality; Women in development -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Sex role -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Women -- Developing countries -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Women -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Gender identity -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 305.4091724
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-0352

Abstract

This paper focuses on finding the pattern of horizontal inequality in wealth within Indian women by forming well defined social groups and measures the inter-group inequality among them using National Family Health Survey-4-unit level data. It also analyses the role of inherent deprivation in explaining the differences in asset holding between historically vulnerable caste, religious groups and recognises the residential disadvantages between rural and urban women. Using decomposition of Gini-coefficient, the inter-personal wealth inequality is found to be the highest among rural and scheduled tribe women. Furthermore, women in regions like central and eastern India faced relatively worse distribution of wealth compared to other regions. Additionally, Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis suggests the presence of visible caste and religion-based disadvantages in asset holding among Indian women. We also observe prominent disadvantages faced by the rural women compared to their urban counterparts.