Send message to Contributor

Contribution short abstract:

The study analyses the interrelationship between network and women’s paid work through case studies of domestic workers, trainee drivers and sex workers. The narratives highlight the role of non-kin ties in occupational mobility and diversity and the simultaneous cost of dependency on such ties.

Contribution long abstract:

In India, several supply and demand side factors have been identified as key determinants influencing women's participation in paid work. However, the role of the network in women’s entry into paid work remains underexplored.

This study analyses how kin and non-kin networks influence women's access to paid work through comparative case studies of women workers in Kolkata, India engaged or entering into domestic work, driving and sex work.

In-depth interviews reveal that domestic workers' entry into the occupation primarily depends on information available through kin ties and neighbourhood networks. While the lack of information about alternative occupations is prevalent among domestic workers, those who have been able to diversify their occupation depend upon information from formal non-kin networks such as local political parties or self-help groups.

In contrast, women entering the driving profession depend extensively on non-kin formal and informal ties for instance, on NGOs, previous employers or work acquaintances and even on digital networks for information regarding the training. However, narratives highlight that, while occupational mobility can depend upon association with non-kins across classes, such networks can often be unstable and fragile.

Contrary to popular belief, there is ample evidence that sex workers are not coerced into the work, but rather depend on kin and non-kin networks for entry. Largely, workers share a lack of trust towards the “outside world” which hinders their occupational diversification. However, some workers are able to create alternative earning opportunities through support from their customer network or the collective of sex workers.