An Exploratory Analysis of Women's Empowerment in India: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

The study is an exercise to explore possible directions of causation of level of women's empowerment, a latent variable, with related factors with the view to identify the causes of slow growth of it in India applying the ‘Structural Equation Modelling' (SEM) method to Third National Family and Health Survey data conducted during 2005–2006. The results recognise the inefficiency of education and employment policies formulated in India for women required to bring about behavioural changes among women to fight against the norms of patriarchal society. Significant regional variations are also observed. Priority should be given to an awareness campaigning programme to change social norms and the spread of education and information systems may play a significant role in doing so. The regulatory authority may involve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in this context.