Toward Gender Equality in Rural India: Prospects for Change

Abstract

This analysis began with the question of how much progress has been made in gender equality in India over the past three decades where economic advances have been remarkable. This question was addressed through focusing on processes and outcomes in an Indian community where impressive gains in many areas had taken place over this period. Using social research methods, the challenges highlighted in the above quotation from The Hindu were examined. Areas of progress and stagnation with respect to gender equality and son preference were identified. In this chapter the findings of this study are briefly discussed in the light of the above-mentioned question. The policy implications of these findings are then explored, and a number of recommendations made, for addressing the challenges noted above and in the previous chapters.