Employment Status of Women in the Power Loom Sector: A Case Study of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The chapter examines the employment status of women in the power loom sector by assessing their participation in this sector as well as in different major activities aside from power loom activities. The objective is to understand the time allocation of individuals who are related to the power loom sector and to evaluate the factors that affect the time spent in the sector. It has focused on women’s contribution to the power loom sector and discusses gender inequality in unpaid domestic chores. The study is based on primary data collected through in-depth interviews in the rural area of Benipur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This study found that women participate less than men across all age groups in the power-loom sector in the rural area of Benipur. Women have lower education qualifications than men at each level; however, they are more involved in education than men in their initial years of schooling. Women’s involvement in education declines with age, while men’s involvement does not. Due to low educational attainment, they face many difficulties in understanding this new technology of power loom. Domestic involvement of women might be a major reason behind their low participation in education as well as the power loom sector. Even today, ‘farming or agriculture’ is the most important major alternate activity for the livelihood of the people who are related to the power-loom sector. The key contribution of this chapter is to understand the employment status of women and evaluate the women’s contributions to the power loom sector.

Citation

Yadav, N. and Sahoo, P. (2024), "Employment Status of Women in the Power Loom Sector: A Case Study of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh", Vinodan, A., Mahalakshmi, S. and Rameshkumar, S. (Ed.) Informal Economy and Sustainable Development Goals: Ideas, Interventions and Challenges, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 317-333. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-980-220241017