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FROM MATRILINY TO THE MARRIAGE MARKET: A CASE STUDY EXAMINING THE GROWTH OF WOMEN'S TERTIARY EDUCATION IN KERALA, INDIA

Bunter, Lyndsay (2006)
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
The purpose of this paper was to assess the different motivations for women who are pursuing their master's degree in English literature at a university in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. Kerala has the highest rate of female enrolment in higher education within India. A case study, with reference to current studies, was carried out. The study was qualitative in nature, using semi-structured interviews with 16 female respondents and 4 male respondents. The results of the study indicate that the respondents, who are largely middle-class, wish to pursue white-collar jobs, which is acceptable and even encouraged by their families. Macro-level factors, including globalisation, have led to the belief among the respondents that white-collar are... (More)
The purpose of this paper was to assess the different motivations for women who are pursuing their master's degree in English literature at a university in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. Kerala has the highest rate of female enrolment in higher education within India. A case study, with reference to current studies, was carried out. The study was qualitative in nature, using semi-structured interviews with 16 female respondents and 4 male respondents. The results of the study indicate that the respondents, who are largely middle-class, wish to pursue white-collar jobs, which is acceptable and even encouraged by their families. Macro-level factors, including globalisation, have led to the belief among the respondents that white-collar are acceptable and even beneficial in the marriage market. The marriage market also has a further role to play in the respondents' educational motivations; the respondents believe that a highly educated woman will attract a highly educated man and she will have less dowry to pay because her qualifications, highly valued in Keralite society, serve to enhance her appeal as a well-rounded, understanding future bride. (Less)
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author
Bunter, Lyndsay
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
India, Kerala, higher education, women, marriage, Social sciences, Samhällsvetenskaper
language
English
id
1326261
date added to LUP
2006-03-13 00:00:00
date last changed
2006-03-13 00:00:00
@misc{1326261,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this paper was to assess the different motivations for women who are pursuing their master's degree in English literature at a university in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. Kerala has the highest rate of female enrolment in higher education within India. A case study, with reference to current studies, was carried out. The study was qualitative in nature, using semi-structured interviews with 16 female respondents and 4 male respondents. The results of the study indicate that the respondents, who are largely middle-class, wish to pursue white-collar jobs, which is acceptable and even encouraged by their families. Macro-level factors, including globalisation, have led to the belief among the respondents that white-collar are acceptable and even beneficial in the marriage market. The marriage market also has a further role to play in the respondents' educational motivations; the respondents believe that a highly educated woman will attract a highly educated man and she will have less dowry to pay because her qualifications, highly valued in Keralite society, serve to enhance her appeal as a well-rounded, understanding future bride.}},
  author       = {{Bunter, Lyndsay}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{FROM MATRILINY TO THE MARRIAGE MARKET: A CASE STUDY EXAMINING THE GROWTH OF WOMEN'S TERTIARY EDUCATION IN KERALA, INDIA}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}