Vol. 16, Issue 1, Jul-Dec 2023

Page: 92-95

Conditions of Women Agricultural Workers in Telangana (1900-1945) - An Observation

P. Shanthi

Received Date: 2023-04-13

Accepted Date: 2023-05-15

Published Date: 2023-05-26

This research paper critically examines the socio-economic status of women agricultural labourers in Telangana from the beginning of the 20th century to the late 1940s. The study highlights how gendered labour divisions, patriarchal norms, and feudal land relations shaped the lives and work conditions of women. Drawing from census data, gazetteers, and historical research, it is evident that women were not only integral to agricultural production but also subject to systemic discrimination in terms of wages, labour intensity, and social status. Female agricultural workers often worked longer hours for lower pay and were frequently denied basic rights, mobility, and recognition. The rise of commercial crops and changes in landholding patterns due to repeated droughts further marginalized these women. Additionally, oppressive systems like Vettiba, akin to bonded labour, and exploitative customs such as using women as collateral in debt repayment, underline the severe gender-based inequalities prevalent at the time. This paper also explores the interplay of caste, class, and gender that institutionalized second-class citizenship for women in agrarian settings. Through historical analysis, the paper attempts to foreground the invisible yet crucial contributions of women in Telanganas rural economy and the long-standing struggles they endured under feudalistic and patriarchal oppression.

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