¹Sanchita Agarwal, ²Prof. Md. Arshad

¹Post Graduate Student of Institute of Social Science, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra
²Prof. Of Dept. of Social Science, Institute of Social Science, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra

DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i01-112

Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT

This research paper delves into the complex interplay between family structures, women's roles, and their agency in decision-making within patriarchal societies. This paper focus on how traditional joint families, with their entrenched gender roles and centralized authority, limit women's participation in household choices. In contrast, nuclear families offer some hope, with greater autonomy and shared decision-making processes opening doors for challenging established norms. Marital status and employment status also emerge as key factors, with unmarried women and employed women demonstrating greater flexibility and influence. Financial autonomy further nuances the picture, showcasing both collaborative approaches and conditional independence for women. Ultimately, the distribution of decision-making power reflects the uneven terrain of gender equality, highlighting the persisting influence of patriarchal structures. This paper underscores the need for dismantling these structures and fostering truly collaborative familial environments to pave the way for a more equitable future for women.

KEYWORDS:

Family expectations, eve empowerment= contextual in nature, psychological empowerment=motivational construct, Decision making, Roles and Status and Household.

REFERENCES
1) Agarwal Bina, “Bargaining and gender relations: Within and beyond household”

2) Arnett, J. J. (2002). “The psychology of globalization. American Psychologist”

3) Bhattacharyya, Indradeep. (2020) “How gendered labour was hard-wired into uppermiddle-class households”. The Wire.

4) Bhattacharyya Rittuparna, “Examining the Changing status and role of Middle-class Assamese Women: Lessons from the lives of University students”.

5) Debnath Sisir, “Understanding family structure and Women’s empowerment.” (Women's Empowerment (isb.edu))

6) Desai, S., & Andrist, L. (2010). “Gender scripts and age at marriage in India”.

7) Evans, J., Sahgal, N., Salazar, A.M., Starr, K.J., and Corichi, M. (2022) “How Indians view gender roles in families and society”. PEW Research Centre

8) Harkness Susan (2010). “The Contribution of Women’s Employment and Earnings to Household Income Inequality: A Cross-Country Analysis”

9) Kabeer Naila, “The Conditions and Consequences of Choice: Reflections on the Measurement of Women’s Empowerment” (d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net)

10) Majlesi Kaveh, “Labor Market Opportunities and Women's Decision-Making Power within Households”

11) Rawat Preeti S, “Patriarchal belief, Women’s Empowerment and General wellbeing.”

12) Khaitan, S. (2021) “Will payment for housework discourage women from paid work?”

13) Kitayama, S., Berg, M. K., & Chopik, W. J. (2020). “Culture and well-being in late adulthood: Theory and evidence”. American Psychologist

14) Nair, G., & Hofman, N. G. (2022). “Middle-class Women and Domestic Work in India and the United States: Caste Race and Patriarchy”. Sociological Bulletin

Volume 07 Issue 01 January 2024