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Women Making Choices

Author

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  • Ashima Goyal

    (Ashima Goyal is Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Gen. Vaidya Marg, Santosh Nagar, Goregaon (E), Mumbai 400 065. E-mail:ashima@igidr.ac.in.)

Abstract

Amartya Sen's capability approach is very useful to analyse how choices affect the potential of women, once the position that women lack self-awareness when they make their choices is dropped. Women's agency is underestimated. Women's ‘otherregarding choices’ are not irrational because altruism has not only intrinsic, but also instrumental value as a source of social capital; it may even increase some types of freedom. The mask of conformity women wear in preferring less to more can be misinterpreted as a lack of awareness. The rapidity with which even poor women make use of opportunities that suit their other-regarding choices and the special modes of functioning they have developed as a result prove that the mask of women's conformity is a shallow one.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashima Goyal, 2007. "Women Making Choices," Indian Journal of Gender Studies, Centre for Women's Development Studies, vol. 14(3), pages 409-437, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indgen:v:14:y:2007:i:3:p:409-437
    DOI: 10.1177/097152150701400303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Birhanu Megersa Lenjiso & Jeroen Smits & Ruerd Ruben, 2016. "Smallholder Milk Market Participation and Intra-household Time Allocation in Ethiopia," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 28(5), pages 808-825, November.
    2. Chaudhuri, Sanjukta, 2010. "Women's Empowerment in South Asia and Southeast Asia: A Comparative Analysis," MPRA Paper 19686, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Eswarappa Kasi, 2013. "Role of Women in Sericulture and Community Development," SAGE Open, , vol. 3(3), pages 21582440135, September.

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