Gender Differences in Psychological Adjustment to Development Induced Displacement: An Indian Case Study

Examining the Impact of Gender on Psychological Adjustment to Development Induced Displacement in an Indian Case Study

Abstract

Mega-development projects often result in massive displacement and maladjustment of the indigenous groups. The purpose of the present study is to investigate gender differences in psychological adjustment to development induced displacement in Shivamogga district in the Karnataka state of India. The sample comprised of 120 middle-aged individuals, including 30 men and 30 women each in the displaced and non-displaced categories. The Shamshad-Jasbir old age adjustment inventory and a semi-structured interview schedule were used to assess the adjustment and to gather focused and qualitative data, respectively. The findings of the study revealed that gender has significant effect on the adjustment to forced displacement. Importantly, our results showed that women had greatly reduced total adjustment scores post-displacement, compared to men, suggesting disproportionate impact of displacement. Gender disparities in adjustment sub-categories were also observed, with females exhibiting poor health and marital adjustment and, in contrast, males showed poor financial adjustment. Data also revealed significantly lower emotional and social adjustment scores for both genders, post-displacement. We conclude that forced displacement affected adjustment in men and women in quite different ways. Thus, the gender bias and a male-centered vision of the resettlement policies requires to be readdressed, and more inclusive programs and policies should be formulated to help both genders effectively cope with displacement and resettlement.