Gender Bias and Male Backlash as Drivers of Crime Against Women: Evidence from India

Abstract

Male backlash, which we define as a hostile response to female empowerment in a gender biased society, drives crime against women. We provide evidence to support this idea. Combining survey data with administrative records on rapes, indecent assaults and domestic violence in India, we show that a smaller gender gap in earning potential is associated with more rapes and indecent assaults. This relationship is exacerbated in states with high gender bias, pointing away from increased reporting as a potential channel. A smaller gender gap is associated with lower domestic violence, but only in states with low gender bias.

Keywords: Crime Against Women, Backlash, Gender Bias, Gender gaps, India

JEL Classification: O12, J16