Looking beyond Gender Parity

Kerala has been considered relatively free from the conventional restrictions against women's education and employment, or women owning property. Indeed, the state level gender development index estimated by several scholars places Kerala ahead of other states. But a decomposition of this index reveals that the top position in education and health masks the poor employment profile of women in the state. Besides, the state witnesses negative trends in women's property rights, rapid growth and spread of dowry and rising gender-based violence. This paper engages critically with gender performance in select dimensions of well-being.