Sen ’ s Capability Approach and Gender Inequality ( alternative title : Five criteria for the selection of capabilities ) Ingrid

This paper investigates how Amartya Sen’s capability approach can be applied to conceptualize and assess gender inequality in Western societies. I first argue against the need to endorse one definite list of capabilities, but instead defend a procedural approach to the selection of capabilities by proposing five criteria. This procedural account is then used to generate a list of capabilities for gender inequality. A survey of empirical studies shows that women are worse off than men one some dimensions, while for other dimensions it is the other way around or no conclusions can be drawn. I also provide an argument for why, for group inequalities, the inequalities in achieved functionings can be taken to reflect the inequality in capabilities, and how one could come to an overall evaluation by weighting the different capabilities.