Abstract
The proportion of women to men in the Indian population is disturbingly low and continues to decline. This decline is a reflection of sex differentials in mortality, arising out of the unequal access women have to life-sustaining inputs like food, nutrition and health care. Female labor participation (FLP) in productive activi ties is an important determinant of such an access, and has been recognized in literature as such. However, the conventional analyses of the impact of FLP on sex ratios do not incorporate the role of cultural factors.
This paper examines the effect of FLP on juvenile sex ratios in India using district-level data. The analysis introduces three new elements: (i) incorporation of the kinship variable to take cultural factors into account, (ii) disaggregation of the juvenile sex ratios into sex ratios for the 0-4- and 5-9-year age group, and (iii) separate analysis of the relationship for tribals, Scheduled Castes and the rest of the population. Each of these provides some new insights into the debate on regional variations in sex ratios, viz. (a) extent of kinship's influence on FLP itself and on the relationship between FLP and sex ratios, (b) ability of the 5-9-year age group sex ratios to capture the effects of FLP far more effectively compared to juvenile sex ratios, and (c) difference in the patterns among the three social groups in general, and the seriousness of the situation among the Scheduled Castes in the north-western region in particular.
The use of FLP data for the overall population has certain limitations. It does not reflect the 'prosperity' effect and over-represents poorer groups. This limita tion is discussed along with the possible ways of overcoming it. Finally, the scope of future research and policy implications of the findings suggesting plural and region-group-specific intervention strategies are discussed.
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