WORK AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH - A HOBSONS-CHOICE FOR INDIAN WOMEN

The observed statistical correlation between increase in women's outsi de employment and decrease in birth rates has catapulted the demand fo r increasing women's wage employment as a primary goal, not necessaril y on its own merits, but as parr of the demographic drive to reduce fe rtility. At what costs to women's welfare do such demographic outcomes occur? The existing structural nature of women's work (domestic as we ll as nondomestic) has severe built-in hazards for women's health (rep roductive and otherwise) which no amount of first rare quality of care and/or access to health services alone can deal with. Focusing on Tam il Nadu, the author argues in addition that a demographic model state need not necessarily be a reproductively safe place.