My Project investigates the factors contributing to gender inequality in land ownership among women in forest areas in India. Why do some women succeed in securing land rights while others face challenges? Further, how might the local-level power politics influence these dynamics? India provides a compelling backdrop for my research because, despite ensuring de jure land rights to women through formal legal reform in the Forest Rights Act 2006, enforcement of these rights remains uneven across India. For my preliminary fieldwork, I will zoom into Sonbhadra (U.P.), where 70% of residents depend on forests for their livelihoods.