Published Paper Details:

Globalization has emerged as a transformative force reshaping economic, social, and cultural landscapes across the world. In India, its effects have been particularly significant in altering the status of women by expanding access to education, employment, information, and mobility. This paper examines the role of globalization in transforming the status of women in the Asansol-Durgapur Planning Area (ADPA), a major industrial and urbanizing region in eastern India. The study investigates the progress of urbanization in ADPA over the last two decades and analyses how globalization, mediated through urban growth, transport and communication development, and welfare interventions, has influenced women's lives across urban, sub-urban, and rural areas. Drawing upon Census data, secondary sources, and primary survey findings, the study reveals substantial improvements in female literacy, awareness, and access to opportunities, particularly in urban and sub-urban areas. However, marked spatial disparities persist, with rural women continuing to face greater socio-cultural constraints and limited autonomy. The paper highlights the interplay between globalization, state-led welfare initiatives, and local socio-cultural structures in shaping women's empowerment. It argues that while globalization has created enabling conditions for gender advancement, its benefits remain unevenly distributed across space. Context-specific policy interventions, improved implementation of welfare schemes, and sustained awareness-building are essential for ensuring more inclusive and equitable outcomes for women throughout ADPA.