Dependence and Autonomy: Women's Employment and the Family in Calcutta

What are the effects of employment on women’s well-being and social position in a Third World city?

Until recently before publication, Calcutta (now Kolkata) had been notable for having one of the lowest rates of female employment in India. This had been largely determined by strong cultural beliefs that a woman’s place is in the home. However, in recent years, the growth of ‘female’ jobs in the small-scale industry and service sectors, combined with an increase in male unemployment had resu...