Abstract
Background
Sex ratio data provides strong evidence for increasing gender inequality in India. Nutrition and mortality data reiterate this finding for different regions and periods. For historical periods, we do not have data except the aggregated data on sex-ratios from the Census that started only in 1871. Moreover, under enumeration of unmarried and young females was common in some regions in historical periods. Hence, we investigate gender inequality using adult height data.
Data and methods
We use ship records of "coolie" (indentured) emigrants from India to Fiji, Natal, Jamaica and Mauritius during the 19-20c. Also, Indian DHS (NFHS-3) was used to investigate gender inequality from 1955 to 1982.
Results
On an average, the gap between male and female heights was between 10 and 12 cm and the female heights stagnated after 1950. There is an increase in gender dimorphism from 1820-1830, 1855-1870 and 1955-1982. In the 19c, gender dimorphism increased when the male heights declined. However, in the 20c, we observe a slight increase in dimorphism despite of increase in male height. South Indian women were taller than North Indian women during the 19C pointing towards higher gender inequality in the North. Stature can be used as an indicator of gender inequality along with other traditional indicators like sex-ratio.
Sex ratio data provides strong evidence for increasing gender inequality in India. Nutrition and mortality data reiterate this finding for different regions and periods. For historical periods, we do not have data except the aggregated data on sex-ratios from the Census that started only in 1871. Moreover, under enumeration of unmarried and young females was common in some regions in historical periods. Hence, we investigate gender inequality using adult height data.
Data and methods
We use ship records of "coolie" (indentured) emigrants from India to Fiji, Natal, Jamaica and Mauritius during the 19-20c. Also, Indian DHS (NFHS-3) was used to investigate gender inequality from 1955 to 1982.
Results
On an average, the gap between male and female heights was between 10 and 12 cm and the female heights stagnated after 1950. There is an increase in gender dimorphism from 1820-1830, 1855-1870 and 1955-1982. In the 19c, gender dimorphism increased when the male heights declined. However, in the 20c, we observe a slight increase in dimorphism despite of increase in male height. South Indian women were taller than North Indian women during the 19C pointing towards higher gender inequality in the North. Stature can be used as an indicator of gender inequality along with other traditional indicators like sex-ratio.
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Event ID
17
Session 2
Paper presenter
53 310
Type of Submissions
Regular session only
Language of Presentation
English
First Choice History
Initial First Choice
Initial Second Choice
Weight in Programme
1 000
Status in Programme
1