Economic contribution of women to the household budget: a case study of the beedi industry
Bhatty, Z.
Invisible hands women in home based production: 35-50
1987
Document Number: 378643
The paper considers the situation of women workers in the beedi (traditional cigarette) industry in Allahabad District, Uttar Pradesh. Beedi workers are predominantly Muslim and work at home because of restrictions on their mobility ouside the home. In 25% of the sample households whose annual income did not exceed Rs1500, women's contribution to income was 77%-95%. Nearly all households, with slight differences depending on family size, felt that they would not be in a position to maintain their existing standard of living without the income from beedi making. 77% of women thought that they had better treatment in the household since they had been earning and 72% thought that their views on spending decisions had acquired greater weight. The experience of women experiencing this improvement in status increased with household size and income and, therefore, also with their own contribution. There was also evidence of a change in attitude towards women working.