Participation of Women in Wage Employment and Family Level Decision Making: A Study of Challenges in Empowerment of Young Siddi Women of Gujarat, India

Though the Gir forest area has opened up different wage employment opportunities to the women of Afro-Indians community in Gujarat, they mostly get employed in the non-agricultural sector and earn cash which they keep with themselves but without having right to use it. The present study attempts to understand the disparity in participation of young women in wage employment, the role in family level decision making and its impact on their life and well being in one of the particularly vulnerable tribal group of Gujarat. The study finding shows that though Siddi women who have achieve ideal family size or comparatively older are allowed going out for wage employment, they are also allowed to keep cash but they lack decision making power. Irrespective of the purpose, husband’s permission has to be taken before utilizing cash. The role of woman in family level decision making is found to be always secondary and supportive. Most of the Siddi women especially of young age are over burdened due to their triple role which has a direct impact on their overall health and well being.