Empowering Women Through Craft: The Impact of Madur Mat Production in Sabang, West Bengal: A Case Study

Abstract:

To diagnose the socio-cultural circumstances of women establishing craft businesses, the paper aims to highlight their necessity. When it comes to empowering women business owners, local culinary traditions, handicrafts, and other forms of traditional art may be a rich source of inspiration. Even though women in emerging countries have seen tremendous gains in employment, political influence, and economic independence because of ongoing social and political-cultural changes, they still face substantial obstacles in workforce participation both in the household and outside the household. There has been little change to their conventional roles, despite ongoing progress towards gender equality in the workplace and classroom. A growing body of research also demonstrates the complex ways in which gender impacts entrepreneurial behaviour. After having a child, many women would rather start their own business than go back to a 9 to 5 job. They think that being their boss would allow them to have a better work-life balance. So, even if women have less experience with entrepreneurship and intrapreneurial activities, they nonetheless pick entrepreneurial platforms with different sets of expectations. Given this background, the present study will share the story of women entrepreneurs of Sabang, which is the main hub of the production of award-winning madur (floor mat) and received the GI tag for the same. The success of these women entrepreneurs not only increases the socio-economic conditions but also attracts other women members of society. Thus, creating a significant economic impact in the locality and surroundings.

Keywords:

Women entrepreneurship; Madur; workforce participation; socio-economic development; GI Tag.

Citation: Sibnath Sarkar (2024). Empowering Women Through Craft: The Impact of Madur Mat Production in Sabang, West Bengal: A Case Study. Horizon J. Hum. Soc. Sci. Res. 6 (S), 162–167. https://doi.org/10.37534/bp.jhssr.2024.v6.nS.id1265.p162