Mobility as Capability
Women in the Indian Informal Economy

The book provides valuable insights on the dynamics of women's mobility, autonomy and agency in India's informal labour market.

Nikhila Menon (Author)

9781108836425, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 September 2021

208 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.7 cm, 0.44 kg

'The work on Mobility as Capability reflects on a wide range of issues, enhancing our understanding of mobility, autonomy, and agency, and the intersectionality in the context of gender and work. Situating informal work by women in some of the dynamic activities in Kerala the volume envisages women's work mobility as an indicator of autonomy and agency in terms of capability approach. The work displays commendable originality and innovative thinking, which will stir our reasoning and encourage future research in this direction to help policy initiatives happen in an effective manner.' Arup Mitra, Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi

This book highlights accounts of women workers to capture the domains of gendered mobility, which challenges the exalted status conferred on women in the Kerala model of development. It contests and deconstructs the development discourse which considers women's work mobility as an indicator of autonomy and agency using Capability Approach. The concept of 'transformational mobility' and its measurement introduced in the book advances the understanding of mobility, autonomy and agency and the intersectionality in the context of gender and work. Through an in-depth exploration of lived experiences of informal women workers the author illustrates how patriarchal structures are shaped and reinforced by work places, markets and the state. The central question is - can we steer development policies to facilitate collective capabilities for women where informal work arrangements are becoming the norm?

List of Tables
List of Figures
1. Transformational Mobility as Capability
2. Reflections on Transformational Mobility, Autonomy and Women's Work
3. Women in 'Kerala Model': Myths and Realities
4. Situating Informal Work by Women in Fisheries in Kerala
5. 'Measuring Mobility' of Women: Unravelling the 'Explicit' and the 'Implicit'
6. Pathways to Transformational Mobility of Women Workers: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis
7. 'Subordinating Self': 'Maneuvering Patriarchy' among Women Workers
8. Self Categorisation, Group Identity and Agency among Women Fish Vendors
9. Transformational Mobility: From Individual to Collective Agency of Informal Women Workers
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Economic growth [KCG], Labour economics [KCF], Macroeconomics [KCB], Economics [KC], Gender studies, gender groups [JFSJ]