A Case Study on the Lifestyle of Badaga Women in the Blue Mountain District of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The real growth of women in social and economic life lie in relishing domestic independency and right to take decisions in family and in society is women empowerment. Women upliftment and empowerment should be aimed globally as it is still a stigma in many places around the globe. Empowerment should be aimed for both women in rural and urban.. Many women in villages do a lot of work which includes spinningand plantation. But the society strongly believes that only women in corporate leadership positions can contribute more to the growth of a country. But several researches say that three in ten companies have no woman. Women in villages are also equally talented and biologically strong when compared to women in the cities. But there are many obstacles for women in villages, which stop them from exposing themselves to the society. Perhaps it is because of the unawareness and ignorance and most importantly the unwillingness that stops rural women from enhancing their skills. Badaga women are located in the Nilgiri district and are known for their hospitality. Though there is a constructive growth, there are some facets that badaga women need to change. They are hardworking and in many families’ women replace men in financial and domestic roles but they are not privileged in their hutti's and in the society. This paper aims to present an in-depth exploration of women development and the obstacles that badaga women face in their daily lives. This paper also underlines the sources which would help badaga women to get empowered where gender barrier is a greater jeopardy.