In Simple Words
Think of societal rules as invisible fences placed around different groups. Some groups face high fences that keep individuals inside the home, while others face lower fences allowing freer movement; evaluating specific daily behaviors quantifies how high these social fences are for each demographic group.
Observed social groups at SEWA Bank
- Muslim women
- Most severe restrictions
- Upper-caste Hindu women
- Between the other groups
- Scheduled-caste Hindu women
- Least severe restrictions
This is the observed ranking from the five-part social restriction index. No numerical index scores are supplied. Observed index ranking, not effects of religion or caste. Five behavior dimensions; no numerical scores reported.
See source →Research question
Traditional religious institutions and caste hierarchies enforce social restrictions on women's physical mobility, speech, and public interactions, restricting economic autonomy.
Participants
N = 636 women aged 18–50 across Muslim, upper-caste Hindu, and scheduled-caste Hindu groups in Ahmedabad, India.
Study Design
Quantitative indexing across five behavioral dimensions: ability to socialize alone, face-veiling requirements, speaking directly to elders, leaving the house or neighborhood alone, and ability to remarry.
Results
Index measurements established that Muslim women faced the most severe mobility restrictions, followed by upper-caste Hindu women, whereas scheduled-caste Hindu women faced the least severe restrictions. Business training with peer support was most effective among women facing severe social restrictions.
Takeaway
Evaluate demographic-specific social restriction indices prior to program implementation to target peer-supported empowerment mechanisms to the most socially constrained groups.