Fisherwomen’s Work Participation and Constraints in Kerala, India

Abstract

This paper examines the various constraints faced by fisherwomen in their participation in the workforce. These constraints include socio-cultural factors, economic barriers, and limited access to resources and training. Gender-based discrimination and traditional gender roles often restrict women’s involvement in certain types of work. The study was conducted in the Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram districts of Kerala. The main objective was to examine the relationship between work status and health, skills, family attitudes, general awareness, scheme utilisation, family income, expenditure, and debt.  Primary data were used for the study. The major statistical tools employed for data analysis were the Chi-square test and bar diagrams. The sample consisted of 398 fisherwomen, of whom 262 were unemployed and 136 were employed. Stratified random sampling was used for data collection. The analysis of the constraints affecting the work participation of fisherwomen reveals the interconnected nature of socio-cultural, economic, health-related, and institutional barriers. Traditional gender roles and societal expectations continue to limit women’s mobility and restrict their participation in economically productive activities. Approximately 80 per cent of the unemployed women had education only up to the seventh standard. Similarly, 90–91 per cent of their parents had education only up to the seventh standard. Low educational attainment among unemployed women and their parents restricts access to skilled employment, thereby reinforcing cycles of poverty and economic dependency.