Gender indices as influenced by different levels of female literacy in Odisha

Gender mapping and analysis helps in identifying the regions and districts for priority intervention. The geography of gender has emerged as an important dimension in the gender studies. In the present study, three gender indices namely, female literacy, gender gap in literacy and sex ratio were mapped district wise for all the 30 districts in Odisha. Further, seven female literacy grades (in percentages) between 30 and 100 percent female literacy rates were identified and the gender indices were compared under each female literacy grade. Again, female literacy rate was compared with the level of development of districts in the state. The study revealed that there was clear regionalization as far as the levels of female literacy are concerned. Primarily, the coastal districts of the state have higher female literacy as compared to the western and the southern parts of Odisha which have lower female literacy. The gender gap in literacy generally followed the trend of the female literacy. The spread of sex ratio across districts in India did not follow the trend of female literacy. The sex ratio was lower in the coastal region mainly dictated by the prevailing social mindset irrespective of the levels of female literacy. Finally there was a strong correlation between the levels of female literacy and the levels of development in Odisha.