Introduction to Women Studies

Importance and concepts of women studies – women in patriarchal and matriarchal societies and structures, patrilineal and matrilineal systems and relevance to present day society in India; Economic basis and functioning of patriarchy in developed Countries and LDCs, particularly India.

Reading List

·        Boserup, E. (1970). Women’s Role in Economic Development. George Allen and Unwin, London.

·        Desai, N. & Raj, M.K. (Eds.). (1979). Women and Society in India. Research Center for Women Studies, SNDT University, Bombay.

·        Government of India (1974). Towards Equality – Report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, New Delhi.

·        Krishnaraj, M., Sudarshan, R.M. & Shariff, A. (1999). Gender, Population and Development. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

·        Seth, M. (2000). Women and Development: The Indian Experience. Sage Publications, New Delhi.

·        Srinivasan, K. & Shariff, A. (1998). India: Towards Population and Development Goals. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

·        Venkateswaran, S. (1995). Environment, Development and the Gender Gap. Sage Publications, New Delhi.

·        Wazir, R. (2000). The Gender Gap in Basic Education: NGOs as Change Agents. Sage Publications, New Delhi.

Demographic Aspects

Demography of female population: Age structure, mortality rates, and sex ratio – Causes of declining sex ratios and fertility rates in LDCs and particularly India – Theories and measurement of fertility and its control; Women and their access to nutrition, health, education and social and community resources, and its impact on female mortality and fertility, economic status, and  work participation rate.

Reading List

·        Boserup, E. (1970). Women’s Role in Economic Development. George Allen and Unwin, London.

·        Krishnaraj, M., Sudarshan, R.M. & Shariff, A. (1999). Gender, Population and Development. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

·        Srinivasan, K. & Shariff, A. (1998). India: Towards Population and Development Goals. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

·        Venkateswaran, S. (1995). Environment, Development and the Gender Gap. Sage Publications, New Delhi.

·        Wazir, R. (2000). The Gender Gap in Basic Education: NGOs as Change Agents. Sage Publications, New Delhi.

Women and Decision Making

Factors affecting decision making by women; Property rights; Access to and control over economic resources, assets; Power of decision making at household, class community level; Economic status of women and its effect on work-participation rate, income level, health, and education in developing countries and India.

Reading List

·        Boserup, E. (1970). Women’s Role in Economic Development. George Allen and Unwin, London.

·        Desai, N. & Raj, M.K. (Eds.). (1979). Women and Society in India. Research Center for Women Studies, SNDT University, Bombay.

·        Government of India (1974). Towards Equality – Report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, New Delhi.

·        Wazir, R. (2000). The Gender Gap in Basic Education: NGOs as Change Agents. Sage Publications, New Delhi.

Issues in Women’ Work

Concept and analysis of women’ work: Valuation of productive and unproductive work, Visible and invisible work, Paid and unpaid-work, Economically productive and socially productive work.

Factors affecting female entry in labour market; Supply and demand for female labour in developed and developing countries, particularly India; Studies of female work participation in agriculture, non-agricultural rural activities, informal sector, cottage and small-scale industries, organized industry and services sector.

Reading List

·        Boserup, E. (1970).Women’s Role in Economic Development. George Allen and Unwin, London.

·        Government of India (1974).Towards Equality – Report of the Committee on the Status of Women in India, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, New Delhi.

·        Seth, M. (2000).Women and Development: The Indian Experience. Sage Publications, New Delhi.