Why should I Do Everything Myself: Migration and Employment of Women in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Women’s empowerment is said to be the process whereby women have the strength and confidence to challenge the accepted norms of gender inequality prevalent in many societies. Empowerment also means that women take control and liberate themselves of dependency. Labour migration, where women become the income earners has been one avenue where women were able to be decision makers, have a greater say in household matters, and redefine hitherto followed gender roles. The objective of this study is to understand the flow of empowerment through the three stages of migration, and the demonstration of that empowerment on return.