A Comparative Study of Girls’ Empowerment Among Girls from Reserved and Unreserved Categories in Urban and Rural Areas

Abstract

The present study examines a comparative analysis of the empowerment among adolescent girls from Reserved and Unreserved Categories, studying at the higher secondary level in urban and rural areas. Even today, girls often have to struggle within their families and society to preserve their identity and exercise their freedom of choice, despite being the primary creators and nurturers of families. In many cases, women require male consent to fulfil their own aspirations. Although some change in attitudes toward women has been observed in urban areas, women in rural regions continue to face significant challenges. Therefore, it is essential to foster empowerment, decision-making ability, and self-confidence among girls from an early age.For this study, a sample of 200 girls was selected, including 100 rural and 100 urban students, through a random sampling method. Data were collected using the Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment Scale developed by Dr. Devendra Singh Sisodia and Alpana Sisodia. Statistical analysis of the data revealed a significant difference in the level of empowerment between urban and rural girls, regardless of their social category. The results further suggest that girls living in urban areas generally demonstrate higher levels of empowerment compared to those residing in rural areas.