This document, titled "Bargaining and Gender Relations: Within and Beyond the Household," by Bina Agarwal, explores the complexities of gender relations and bargaining within households. The paper critiques the "unitary" household model, which assumes that all household members share common preferences and budget constraints, and proposes alternative models that incorporate more nuanced understandings of decision-making processes. These models, particularly those based on bargaining, provide a framework for analyzing gender dynamics and the construction of gender asymmetries. However, these models often overlook critical aspects such as the factors affecting bargaining power, the role of social norms and perceptions, and the impact of gender differences in self-interest. The paper highlights that bargaining power is influenced by a range of factors, including economic assets, social support systems, and social norms. It also discusses how social norms can limit what can be bargained about, affect bargaining power, influence the bargaining process, and themselves be subjects of negotiation. The author emphasizes the importance of considering these factors in both theoretical formulations and empirical analyses to better understand gender dynamics within and beyond the household. The paper further examines the links between intrahousehold bargaining and bargaining in external arenas such as the market, community, and state. It argues that policies and interventions should consider these external factors to effectively address gender inequalities. The author concludes by suggesting that a more comprehensive and flexible approach, incorporating qualitative aspects and greater complexity, is needed to fully capture the nature of gender relations and bargaining outcomes.This document, titled "Bargaining and Gender Relations: Within and Beyond the Household," by Bina Agarwal, explores the complexities of gender relations and bargaining within households. The paper critiques the "unitary" household model, which assumes that all household members share common preferences and budget constraints, and proposes alternative models that incorporate more nuanced understandings of decision-making processes. These models, particularly those based on bargaining, provide a framework for analyzing gender dynamics and the construction of gender asymmetries. However, these models often overlook critical aspects such as the factors affecting bargaining power, the role of social norms and perceptions, and the impact of gender differences in self-interest. The paper highlights that bargaining power is influenced by a range of factors, including economic assets, social support systems, and social norms. It also discusses how social norms can limit what can be bargained about, affect bargaining power, influence the bargaining process, and themselves be subjects of negotiation. The author emphasizes the importance of considering these factors in both theoretical formulations and empirical analyses to better understand gender dynamics within and beyond the household. The paper further examines the links between intrahousehold bargaining and bargaining in external arenas such as the market, community, and state. It argues that policies and interventions should consider these external factors to effectively address gender inequalities. The author concludes by suggesting that a more comprehensive and flexible approach, incorporating qualitative aspects and greater complexity, is needed to fully capture the nature of gender relations and bargaining outcomes.