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Evidence of gender inequality in energy use from a mixed-methods study in India

Author

Listed:
  • Meital Rosenberg

    (Hirsch & Associates)

  • Daniel Erian Armanios

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Michaël Aklin

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Paulina Jaramillo

    (Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University African Campus)

Abstract

Prior studies suggest that women particularly stand to benefit from increased electricity access. Yet, few have empirically tested this implicit linkage between energy access (SDG 7) and gender equality (SDG 5). More specifically, few explore how female household members use electricity once it is made accessible. Using India as an illustrative case, we conduct a mixed-methods study. We first inductively assess household appliance use by gender in Gujarat (n = 31). We then assess the generalizability of the use patterns identified through a representative six-state household survey (Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, n = 8,563). In including use, we find that women are neither the sole nor primary beneficiaries of electricity access, even when appliances that would particularly benefit them are affordable. While energy access could improve gender equity, our study highlights intra-household power dynamics as an important boundary condition on realizing more equitable energy access.

Suggested Citation

  • Meital Rosenberg & Daniel Erian Armanios & Michaël Aklin & Paulina Jaramillo, 2020. "Evidence of gender inequality in energy use from a mixed-methods study in India," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 110-118, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0447-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0447-3
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    Cited by:

    1. McCauley, Darren & Pettigrew, Kerry, 2023. "Building a just transition in asia-pacific: Four strategies for reducing fossil fuel dependence and investing in clean energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    2. Gill-Wiehl, A. & Ray, I. & Kammen, D., 2021. "Is clean cooking affordable? A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Cuihong Long & Jiajun Han & Chengzhi Yi, 2020. "Does the Effect of Internet Use on Chinese Citizens’ Psychological Well-Being Differ Based on Their Hukou Category?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Alice Tianbo Zhang & Sasmita Patnaik & Shaily Jha & Shalu Agrawal & Carlos F. Gould & Johannes Urpelainen, 2022. "Evidence of multidimensional gender inequality in energy services from a large-scale household survey in India," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 698-707, August.
    5. Alegre-Bravo, Alonso & Lindsay Anderson, C., 2023. "Exploring the influence of multidimensional variables on access to electricity in rural areas of the Global South," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    6. Aklin, Michaël & Chindarkar, Namrata & Urpelainen, Johannes & Jain, Abhishek & Ganesan, Karthik, 2021. "The hedonic treadmill: Electricity access in India has increased, but so have expectations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    7. Pradhan Shrestha, Rosy & Jirakiattikul, Sopin & Lohani, Sunil Prasad & Shrestha, Mandip, 2023. "Perceived impact of electricity on productive end use and its reality: Transition from electricity to income for rural Nepalese women," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).

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