In India, inheritance laws and social practices systematically deny women ownership of productive resources.

In this collection of essays, well-known social scientists critically evaluate existing state laws regarding land ownership. The varied forms of gender discrimination that exist between and within regions, communities, and caste groups are studied. Few women own land, and even fewer effectively control it. The book recommends ways to counter this inequality by challenging laws and sociocultural values that allow discrimination to persist.

Understanding Women's Land Rights is the XIII volume in the series 'Land Reforms in India', initiated by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. The XI and XIII volumes study gender-unequal land rights in 14 Indian states.