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Female Domestic Workers: Income Determinants and Empowerment Correlates—A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sanghita Bhattacharjee

    (Women’s College, Calcutta)

  • Bhaskar Goswami

    (University of Burdwan)

Abstract

This paper deploys the information of 300 female domestic workers who work to make up the difference between subsistence requirements and the total earnings of the family. The determinants of monthly income of the workers are age, type of work, total family members, per-capita monthly household income, year of schooling and number of houses serviced. Low wages, low level of education, less control over assets and income, verbal and physical abuse and the absence of social security are reflected in their weak bargaining power which results in a low level of empowerment. Women’s earnings do not always ensure empowerment, especially when the wages are low. Meaningful legal safeguards, welfare measures and other provisions for empowerment must be inducted in modern society to reduce injustices, deprivations and indignities towards female domestic workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanghita Bhattacharjee & Bhaskar Goswami, 2020. "Female Domestic Workers: Income Determinants and Empowerment Correlates—A Case Study," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(2), pages 483-498, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijlaec:v:63:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s41027-020-00223-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s41027-020-00223-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rai, Ashok & Ravi, Shamika, 2011. "Do Spouses Make Claims? Empowerment and Microfinance in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 913-921, June.
    2. Punita Bhatt Datta & Robert Gailey, 2012. "Empowering Women through Social Entrepreneurship: Case Study of a Women's Cooperative in India," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(3), pages 569-587, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female domestic workers; Informal; Empowerment; Cumulative Empowerment Index; South 24 Parganas;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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