GENDER AND RURAL TRANSFORMATION: SPATIAL PATTERNS OF SEX RATIO IN SHIRPUR TAHSIL OF DHULE DISTRICT (MAHARASHTRA)

Abstract

Sex ratio is one of the best indicators of status of women in the society. In view of the partly contrasting and partly complementary roles of the two sexes in the economy and society, the study of their ratio to each other becomes of great interest to a demographic study. Sex ratio is an index of the socio-economic conditions prevailing in an area and is a useful tool for regional analysis. (Franklin 1956). The sex ratio is a function of three basic factors of sex ratio at birth, differential in two sexes at different stages of life and sex-selectivity among the migrants,(Clark, 1960). In its own turn, sex ratio has a profound effect on other demographic elements like growth of population, marriage rates, occupational structure, etc. (Shyrock, 1976).  Thus the present paper tries to analyze the spatial variations in the pattern of sex ratio in shirpur thasil of district dhule.  The prime reason behind selection of this particular thasil is that semi- tribal regions of the state are concerned shirpur is the most under developed in terms of socio-economic infrastructural development and displays wide disparity in the geographical and climatic conditions as well. Therefore keeping in view these things the main objective of this study  to find out spatial patterns of sex ratio. Analysis of rural transformation requires attention to gender, as men’s and women’s participation in rural transformation and ability to benefit from it is shaped by their different access to and control over resources, by often inequitable access to employment opportunities, and by norms that govern their access to livelihood opportunities in their communities and beyond. According to 2011 census, the population of Shirpur tahsil was 345232 out of these 176012 were males and 169220 were females. The sex ratio works out to 961 per thousand males. In order to understand spatial variations in sex ratios in Shirpur tahsil or the period 1971-2011 it was calculated for each revenue circle.