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My next blog is on why southern India is more gender equal than the north,
more girls survive, go to school, & women have more autonomy & labour force participation.
I have drafted my theory.
Now I want to hear YOUR priors. Why do you think the south is more gender equal?
more girls survive, go to school, & women have more autonomy & labour force participation.
I have drafted my theory.
Now I want to hear YOUR priors. Why do you think the south is more gender equal?
Some replies emphasise leftist agitation in the 20th century.
I should add that even in 1900 the south was already more gender equal.
North-South differences have deep roots.
I should add that even in 1900 the south was already more gender equal.
North-South differences have deep roots.
In 1880, women in Kerala & Karnataka married at 15/16.
And look Rajasthan only achieved that in 1970!!
And look Rajasthan only achieved that in 1970!!
Thus far people have mentioned:
- Caste: few upper castes less vegetarianism in the south
- Religion: Muslim invasions in the north
- Leftist & egalitarian movements in the south (eg Bhakti)
- Matrilineal rule in Kerala
- Crop systems (tho note UP is a big rice producer).
- Caste: few upper castes less vegetarianism in the south
- Religion: Muslim invasions in the north
- Leftist & egalitarian movements in the south (eg Bhakti)
- Matrilineal rule in Kerala
- Crop systems (tho note UP is a big rice producer).
Sorry, the contrast is not north vs south,
but north & northwest vs south & east.
but north & northwest vs south & east.
But... even though women tend to have more autonomy, mobility & labour force participation in the south & east,
intimate partner violence is much lower in more patriarchal Rajasthan????
(National Family Health Survey, 2015-16)
https://www.hindustantimes.com/interactives/women-empowerment-index/ (dark = worse)
intimate partner violence is much lower in more patriarchal Rajasthan????
(National Family Health Survey, 2015-16)
https://www.hindustantimes.com/interactives/women-empowerment-index/ (dark = worse)
Some replies flag the egalitarian & leftist movements in the south over many centuries.
Yes!
Those were transformative.
But there's a further question about the background conditions that enabled greater success in the south-east..
And why they were inhibited in the N/ NW
Yes!
Those were transformative.
But there's a further question about the background conditions that enabled greater success in the south-east..
And why they were inhibited in the N/ NW
So I also think about soils & coastal access.
Fishing lowers relative importance of land, & is associated with matriliny.
Clayey soils are less suitable for the plough & more common in the south, so FLFP.
Then egalitarian & leftist movements.
Contra invasions north.
Fishing lowers relative importance of land, & is associated with matriliny.
Clayey soils are less suitable for the plough & more common in the south, so FLFP.
Then egalitarian & leftist movements.
Contra invasions north.
So for me, it's very much a cumulative process:
Starting with geography, which shapes kinship & women's labour force participation.
So matrilineal rule, cultural representations, & leftist movements amplify pre-existing advantage.
Starting with geography, which shapes kinship & women's labour force participation.
So matrilineal rule, cultural representations, & leftist movements amplify pre-existing advantage.
