Synopsis "This book revolves around two objectives. First, it seeks to understand social status of women; second, since the status of women and fertility behaviour have a social and cultural context it attempts at analysing the associated social and cultural values affecting women's life in and outside home. Along with other issues explored pertain to women's work participation and identity, women's autonomy in decision making with regard to their own lives, particularly in the selection of mate, solemnisation of their marriage, bearing of children and their access to family property and resources. In the context of fertility behaviour it examines the nature and type of marriages, nature of child bearing practices, social and cultural norms governing the family size and sex preferences, general level of knowledge and family planning practices and the socio-economic correlates of fertility behaviour."