Caste, gender and intersectionality in labour market aspirations: evidence from a skill-training programme in India

TY - JOUR

T1 - Caste, gender and intersectionality in labour market aspirations

T2 - evidence from a skill-training programme in India

AU - Sarkar, Sudipa

AU - Chakravorty, Bhaskar

AU - Lyonette, Clare

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2025/10/15

Y1 - 2025/10/15

N2 - This study examines how social identity shapes future aspirations in a developing country context. Using data from a large-scale skill-training program for rural youth in India, we focus on two key identity dimensions: caste and gender. Our findings suggest that trainees from the socially disadvantaged groups–Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC)–have significantly lower income aspirations and expectations than trainees from privileged castes. However, caste gaps disappear in expected post-training salaries. Female participants also have significantly lower aspirations and expectations than their male counterparts. These disparities persist even after accounting for background characteristics, including pre-training personality traits and non-cognitive skills. Exploring intersection of caste and gender, we find that disadvantages are cumulative: SC/ST women face the lowest aspiration and expectation levels across all groups. This pattern supports the “double jeopardy” hypothesis, highlighting how overlapping social identities compound disadvantage in shaping individuals’ economic outlooks and perceived future opportunities.

AB - This study examines how social identity shapes future aspirations in a developing country context. Using data from a large-scale skill-training program for rural youth in India, we focus on two key identity dimensions: caste and gender. Our findings suggest that trainees from the socially disadvantaged groups–Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC)–have significantly lower income aspirations and expectations than trainees from privileged castes. However, caste gaps disappear in expected post-training salaries. Female participants also have significantly lower aspirations and expectations than their male counterparts. These disparities persist even after accounting for background characteristics, including pre-training personality traits and non-cognitive skills. Exploring intersection of caste and gender, we find that disadvantages are cumulative: SC/ST women face the lowest aspiration and expectation levels across all groups. This pattern supports the “double jeopardy” hypothesis, highlighting how overlapping social identities compound disadvantage in shaping individuals’ economic outlooks and perceived future opportunities.

KW - Aspirations

KW - India

KW - caste

KW - gender

KW - intersectionality

KW - social identity

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019249465

U2 - 10.1080/13600818.2025.2570943

DO - 10.1080/13600818.2025.2570943

M3 - Article

SN - 1360-0818

JO - Oxford Development Studies

JF - Oxford Development Studies

ER -