Mridula Sharma says “Empowerment of women can be achieved only through education.” There is much reluctance on the part of parents to send children to schools. The cause for this trend lies with the boys who go fishing at the age of 7 or 8 as this occupation does not require much education.
In the fisherfolk society there is a gender-based division of labour. In accordance to the division women confine themselves to household affairs and mane control the sea. The Parava women found the central focus of their identity and their social role in the work they perform as wives, mothers and daughters (Kalpana Ram). But they have now broken such barriers and they perform activities like salting, drying and selling fish. They have also resorted to sorting fish. So the domestic tasks, the special responsibilities in the religious sphere and various economic activities have increased their burden three-fold and their health is very much affected. Continue reading Share her burden
Share her burden