Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the formation of 'new womanhood’ in the lives of five Indian Muslim women on becoming heads of their families and while traversing through patriarchal boundaries of the public (informal sector) and the private (families), in the face of neo-Liberal policies of the state

Paper long abstract:

Deregulation of markets resulting from neo-liberal policies of industrializing countries leads to disproportionate labour rights of the workers vis-à-vis their industrialised country counterparts. They work with no contract, lack proper organization, have long, unregulated work hours and negligible wages leading to 'feminization' of the informal workforce. While the inclusion of women into the labor force has led to a reclaiming of the hitherto male dominated public sphere and dilution of the divide between the public and private, patriarchal authorities at work and in their families continue to dictate the terms of their agency in terms of work undertaken, wages paid and amount/hours of work undertaken.

This paper looks into the lives of five Muslim Female Headed Households belonging to slums of Delhi, India, and employed in informal works such as sewing, peeling plastic coated metal wires, working as para-medicals. They face the brunt of double social exclusion, on grounds of belonging to economically weaker sections of society and the poorest religious minority (Muslims) of the country; and on being a woman and working in a patriarchal, male-dominated work force.

It explores the formation of 'new womanhood' on becoming 'female heads' of their family and in negotiating patriarchal authority while traversing the boundaries of the public and private realm through their work in a mixed environment. It also analyses barriers to entry in work-force, difficulties faced in being a female head and working/adjusting to meet the needs of the family, and pressures of remarriage imposed by relatives.