Education as a Catalyst for Change: Exploring Its Impact on Rural Women’s Lives

This study investigates the impact of education on the socio-economic conditions, health awareness, political awareness, and decision-making authority among literate and illiterate rural women in the Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts of West Bengal, India. By surveying 100 women—50 literate and 50 illiterate—the research explores the differences in their roles, family dynamics, and perceptions of education, particularly girls' education. The findings reveal economic disparities with regard to literacy, younger women having higher education levels were economically more advantageous. Education is found to be crucial for empowering women and enhancing their economic independence, political autonomy, and participation in household decision-making. Despite a strong cultural norm of joint decision-making between husbands and wives across all educational levels, individual decision-making tends to be more common among less educated women, indicating varying levels of empowerment. The study highlights the importance of education in overcoming social barriers, promoting gender equality, and fostering autonomy among rural women.