Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This thesis explores gendered labor inequalities and their impact on the well-being of women workers in Sri Lankan tea plantations. Based on Marxist Feminist theory and a multidimensional well-being framework, the study examines how women are subjected to structural inequalities through paid labor, unpaid domestic labor, and patriarchal control and how these inequalities impact women’s physical, mental, and social well-being. Using the qualitative methods of semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and thematic analysis, data were collected and analyzed from tea estate communities in Badulla District of Sri Lanka. The findings are organized across five key themes: economic exploitation, the double burden of paid and unpaid labor, patriarchy and power, well-being, and institutional neglect, demonstrating how each theme contributes to overall women workers’ physical, mental, and social well-being. The study reveals several underexplored issues in existing literature, such as sexual favoritism where supervisors offer preferential treatment in exchange for sexual compliance, stigma around menstruation and health issues, absence of supportive structures such as accessible child care and health, and alcoholism and widespread production and consumption of illegal alcohol (kasippu). Importantly, the study identifies a feedback loop between labor conditions and well-being, where chronic fatigue and mental stress reduce women's ability to meet labor demand, leading to further wage loss and marginalization. These dynamics show that well-being is not only an outcome of gendered inequalities but also a factor that affects women’s agency and labor capacity. The study findings further contribute to new insights by examining women’s experiences in Badulla district, a major tea-producing region in Sri Lanka, which has received limited scholarly attention. By positioning women's lived experiences within the broader structures of capitalism and patriarchy, this study contributes to the ongoing conversations on labor justice and gender equality. It encourages the recognition of both paid and unpaid labor and urges action to deal with deep-rooted gender inequalities. It also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing well-being and the dignity of estate women in policy making and development efforts.