Author Description

The women who need effective birth control most are often the ones who find modern contraceptives unaffordable. So goes the cruel catch-22 affecting many of India's poorer women. Concisely and competently, Alia Ahmad sheds light on the links between the insecure socio-economic status of women and their fertility behavior. Women and Fertility in Bangladesh uses Bangladesh as a case study for analyzing this link--and what can be done to improve the status of women in India. Enlightening and thought provoking, Women and Fertility in Bangladesh is clearly written and quite accessible. Alia Ahmad's study will be required reading for anyone interested in gender studies, population studies, sociology, and economics. "The book is not only a good source of information in theoretical linkages between women's status and fertility but also provides some evidence on the related issues in the context of Bangladeshi society."