Women’s Empowerment and Son Preference: The Case of India

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore the changing patterns of women’s empowerment and son preference at the Indian sub-national level. We have measured the state-level degree of women’s empowerment and son preference for two different periods, that is, 2015–2016 and 2019–2020 using the fourth and fifth rounds state-level National Family Health Survey data. The sample of the study consists of women who can potentially have son preference. The study has examined whether the mean level of women’s empowerment and son preference has changed significantly between the two concerned time periods. The categorisation and cluster analysis of the states is done based on the degree of women’s empowerment and son preference. To explore the degree of association between son preference and women’s empowerment and its indicators, a correlation matrix is formed. No significant increase in the mean level of son preference is found whereas the average value of the degree of women’s empowerment increased significantly in 2019–2020 compared to 2015–2016. Further, the states categorised as having comparatively strong women’s empowerment do not necessarily have a comparatively low level of son preference. No significant association between women’s empowerment and son preference is explored through the correlation matrix as well. Thus, the study leads to the conclusion that son preference in India has no significant association with women’s empowerment.