SOCIAL SCIENTIST the significance of economic empowerment. Interesting details like the 'dining practices of the younger and older generation, changing perceptions regarding marriage and childcare, and the role of women in all these' is analysed in the book. Field notes in the book bring alive the details as they existed at the time of the study and make the book extremely interesting. The section on childcare draws parallels with the West. As opposed to the emotional focus on the child in the West, children in the study area, particularly the Old Town, appear to be a part of the entire household activity. Their physical and emotional needs are met in between several other chores to be performed by the mother and various other caretakers. However, she noticed that this was changing in the New Town where children 'were not born into large multi-generational, hierarchical and sexually segregated... interdependence' (p.125). The mothers in the New Town also engaged themselves into providing the infants with various skills like motor developments, proficiency with words and other such skills (p.126). Children are not just allowed to grow up but a stimulating and educational environment is made available to the child in the New Town. Women play an important role in all these. Seymour observes that a shift is taking place from 'collectivist' to 'individualistic' value system in social interaction in the New Town. Although, largely children are socialised 'to identify with the family as a whole and to put the interests of that collective unit ahead of their 'individual interests' (p.268),' there have been times when younger members have tried to come out of it. Not all the brothers in the household fulfill their obligations/responsibilities towards their parents/siblings. Seymour gives instances where younger women did express a willingness to rebel if pushed too far 'in their perception' by the husband's family. Instances like a woman 'leaving an unhappy marriage despite heavy social disapprobation' or the instance of another woman who 'with the help of her husband was able to stand up to a punitive mother-in-law' (p.271) have been given to stress the point. This is in spite of the early socialisation of girl children to put the interests of the family before their personal desires. A situation of conflict indeed, which makes 'some men reluctant to educate their daughters and other men hesitant to have highly educated daughters-in-law.' (p.267). Seymour observes the gender bias in terms of access to education in general. There is general emphasis on educating the boys though the practice of sending girls at least to elementary schools has started.