Sunny Jose, Assistant Professor, Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad

The paper analyses the claim that paid employment would enhance women’s autonomy in India. By arguing as to why all forms of paid employment under all conditions may not enhance women’s autonomy, it seeks to extend the scope of the claim and empirical analysis. This is attempted by incorporating some of the obvious, but neglected factors underlying women’s paid employment. It examines two interrelated issues: a) whether poverty induced paid employment contributes significantly to women’s paid employment and autonomy. It states that participation in paid employment is necessary both to sustain and enhance employed women’s autonomy.