Title: Deprivation of females in Kondh-dominated villages in rural Orissa: evidence and economic explanations

Authors: Clem Tisdell, Kartik Roy, Ananda Ghose

Addresses: School of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. School of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia. School of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia

Abstract: Economic theories of the family, of gender discrimination and deprivation within the family are examined in the context of three Kondh-dominated tribal villages, relying on a survey. Background information about the groups surveyed, the study area and nature of the survey are provided and the resource endowments of interviewed wives and their families and their economic status are outlined. Results from interviews of 106 wives, using a structured questionnaire, are reported and analysed. Factors of relevance for economic unitary and bargaining theories of the family are examined in this social context. Entitlements of females are ascertained. Using the survey results, socioeconomic influences on the status of wives and their deprivation within their families are examined and the entitlements of female and male children are compared and analysed. Because of cultural embedding, it is suggested that the relevance of economic theories of the family depend significantly on cultural contexts.

Keywords: economic theories of family; gender inequality; human capital; India; poverty; resource endowments.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2003.002085

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2003 Vol.2 No.2, pp.167-186

Published online: 24 Jun 2003 *

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