Male Sterilization and Persistence of Violence: Evidence from Emergency in India

Aditi Singh () and Sarah Vincent ()
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Aditi Singh: Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia
Sarah Vincent: Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France, https://www.amse-aixmarseille.fr/en/members/vincent

No 2403, AMSE Working Papers from Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France

Abstract: Can forced sterilization programs targeting men lead to male-perpetrated violence? This paper investigates the impact of a government-mandated male sterilization program introduced in India on the rise of violence. Launched in April 1976, the program predominantly targeted men and saw heterogeneous implementation across India over 10 months. Using various household surveys and newly digitized historical data sources, we study whether the program triggered unintended effects on violence, measured by crime rates. Using a difference-indifferences strategy by exploiting geographical variation in coercion intensity, we find that an increase in exposure to the program led to an increase in violent crime rates of 7% for the average district, which persisted over time. Violent crimes against women primarily drive the increase in crime rates, as rapes are increasing by 22% for the average district. We find that the program was ineffective in reducing fertility, so we hypothesize that a forced sterilization program targeting men may increase violence against women through two main channels: the program inducing trauma and impacting perceptions of masculinity. In line with those channels, we see that districts with high coercion intensity correlate with more harmful gender norms: higher levels and acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence, lower bargaining power of women and lower contraception adoption.

Keywords: Male Sterilization; violence; gender; persistence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 N35 N45 O12 O20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 46 pages
Date: 2024-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his
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