Indian Journal of Economics and Development, Vol 6 (9), September 2018 ISSN (online): 2320-9836 ISSN (Print): 2320-9828 Household bargaining and marital practices among young Indian women Neha Verma Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, India nverma.kmc@gmail.com Abstract Objective: The paper attempts to unravel the household bargaining power and autonomy in marital practices among young Indian women vis-à-vis their husband and older women in the household. Statistical Analysis: The unit level Indian Human Development Survey-II (2011-12) data is used for the study. Individual and household level autonomy is assessed through attributes like decision making in the household, mobility, financial autonomy and social and political consciousness among women. However, marital practices are studied in relation to marital history and nature of marital relationship. The differences in the percentages of young and old women with respect of these attributes are tested through two group mean comparison using t- testing and significance of the difference is noted and conclusions are drawn. Findings: The major finding of the study is the presence of gendered division of work in the household in Indian society. Women after marriage remain under the influence of older women in the household and take up more prominent role as they get older. The education level of younger women fails to increase her decision making autonomy and mobility. However, education and work independence are important in enhancing women autonomy on various other fronts. A pragmatic change in the attitude of both men and women is required for gender equality in household and in society as a whole. Keywords: Bargaining power, Women autonomy, Marital practices, Women agency. 1. Introduction Fundamental principle of Hindu social organization is to preserve land, women and ritual quality (caste purity) [Nur Yalman, Social Anthropologist, and Harvard University]. The control over women in the household and society thereby curtailing their autonomy and movement is at the centre of the patriarchal societies. According to Manusmriti, women are seen as highly disloyal, they look for mate after mate and can give away to any man – they have an insatiable lust. The ideology which preaches stridharma and pativratadharma become the mechanism to exercise control over the women. This ideology being embedded in the mindset of women since their birth makes all these preaching internalized in their socially desirable behavior [1]. Across cultures, it has been generally accepted that men hold more power as compared to women [2]. The differential power diffusion ranges from men occupying socially and economically influential roles and women being swayed in daily household tasks [3]. Over the course of time, these beliefs are challenged by women and society by large. With emancipation of women in modern times, greater participation in the labour force and educational and professional advancement in their qualifications, the traditionally defined gender roles at the individual, household and societal levels should be revisited. The gender roles are a product of age old beliefs, practices and attitudes which can only undergo a slow and gradual change. In India, there is not a clear cut division between urban emancipated modern women and rural poorly educated dependent women. In a patriarchal society like ours, the gender roles are identified with the women irrespective of their region, education and workforce participation. In the contemporary world, we focus on women’s decision making power in the household, mobility, financial autonomy and marital practices to understand the phenomenon of women empowerment. Various authors have defined the term differently but the definition which fits in the line of argument of this paper is proposed by [4] who defined empowerment as "the process, and the outcome of the process, by which women gain greater control over material and intellectual resources, and challenge the ideology of patriarchy and the gender-based discrimination against women in all the institutions and structures of society". Individual empowerment includes both control over resources (extrinsic) and ideology (intrinsic) [5]. 1 www.iseeadyar.org