MUSLIM WOMEN'S PERCEPTION IN DELHI ON THE RELIGIO-CULTURAL AND NON-CULTURAL INDICATORS ASSOCIATED WITH STATUS

For comprehensive understanding on the status of women it is essential to know how they envisage themselves. The aim in this study is to investigate Muslim women's perception on the religio-cultural indicators (inheritance of property, Mehr system, dowry continuation) and non-cultural indicators (education and paid work participation) associated with their status enhancement. For the present study, 500 ever-married Muslim women of Delhi were interviewed. The result of study suggests that Muslim women perceive that education (98 per cent) and paid-work participation (87 per cent) play huge roles in enhancement of status. However, Muslim women still have low percentage in paid-work participation, and descriptive interviews with them suggest that it is considered only an option to serve the family in financial crisis only. Its role in raising the status is still not being explored by them. Muslim women do not perceive religio-cultural indicators as an enhancer of women's status in contemporary times. This study also recommends reinterpretation in religio-cultural indicators related to Muslim women's status in view of contemporary sociocultural surroundings, as well as the need for stringent enforcement agency/agencies of these indicators.