Gender difference in cereal intake: possible impacts of social group affiliation and season.

Food may not be equitably distributed within the household. The distribution depends on some factors, one of which is availability of food. The generalised proposition of gender bias against women in the distribution of food in South Asia has been examined here in three culturally contrasting population groups in two seasons, viz. lean and peak. The result shows that in all the three groups, in all household membership categories, the intake of cereal is higher than the recommended intake, but the male-female differences in net intakes are higher in peak season than in lean season.