Female Weavers Research Articles

Fabricating Health: The Challenges Faced by Women Power loom Weavers

The power loom sector is a significant contributor to fabric manufacturing in the country, encompassing a diverse range of products. These products span from low-value coarse and gauze cloth to high-value shirting, suiting, and made-ups. Additionally, the sector also produces a limited number of grey fabrics or yarn-dyed products. Female weavers operating within the power loom sector faces a multitude of obstacles that are significantly influencing their economic survival and overall welfare. The textile industry holds significant importance in the economic development of India, whereas the power loom industry being a crucial element within this sector. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the female labour force participation and total working hours, as well as the effect on their health, in the power loom sector of Gaya and Bhagalpur. In addition, the paper will discuss other significant obstacles faced by women weavers, such as wage disparities, lengthy working hours, and safety and security concerns. The focus of the research will be the socioeconomic standing of female power loom weavers. The study is supported by both primary and secondary data. Primary data is derived from data collection on the ground. Weavers are the backbone of the power loom sector, but they are perpetually plagued by issues related to finances, electricity, and health care, among other issues, and they receive no support from the government. As a result, the industry as a whole experiences low productivity and to enhance the conditions of the power loom weavers, there is a dire need for government support.

Marketing Communication Strategy for Female Weavers in Increasing Sales of Woven Songket in the Weaving Tourism Villages Batu Bara Regency North Sumatra Province

Marketing Communication Strategy for Female Weavers in Increasing Sales of Woven Songket in the Weaving Tourism Villages Batu Bara Regency North Sumatra Province

From Looms to Leadership: Women's Empowerment Through Monjulika Chakma's Bain Textile in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts

Monjulika Chakma's entrepreneurial foray with Bain Textile in 1965 within Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts marked more than just a business venture; it underscored the transformative capabilities of social entrepreneurship. Anchored on a vision to champion female weavers of the region, Chakma not only propelled the intricate art of traditional Chakma fabrics to prominence but also paved the way for socio-economic upliftment and cultural preservation. Despite humble beginnings and myriad challenges – from scarce weaving resources to the complexities of marketing in a geographically remote area – Chakma's resilience and adaptability catalyzed Bain Textile's ascent. This paper unravels Bain Textile's trajectory, highlighting its role in preserving Chakma heritage, engendering female empowerment, and fostering community development. Drawing upon Chakma's innovative strategies and collaborative ethos, the study underscores the imperative of tenacity, co-creation, and experimentation within the sphere of social entrepreneurship. Chakma's Bain Textile emerges not just as a business archetype but as a testament to entrepreneurship's potential as a conduit for societal change and cultural reverence

Productivity Dynamics in the Songket Weaving Industry: A Study of Female Weavers in Sukarara Village

This research delves into the multifaceted dynamics that influence the woven fabric output of female songket weavers in Sukarara Village. By examining the roles of age, marital status, and education level, this study provides valuable insights into the factors shaping productivity in the weaving industry. The findings reveal that age significantly impacts weaving output, with older weavers producing less cloth. Marital status plays a crucial role, as married weavers exhibit higher productivity than their unmarried or divorced counterparts. Surprisingly, education level is found to have limited significance in relation to output. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of productivity dynamics in the weaving industry and suggest the need for context-specific strategies to empower and support female songket weavers in Sukarara Village.

PREVALENCE OF HIDDEN HUNGER (MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY) AMONG THE HANDLOOM WEAVERS IN WESTERN ODISHA

The objective of the research was to assess the prevalence of hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiency) among the handloom weavers of western Odisha. A sample size of 320 comprising of 170 male and 150 female respondents were selected randomly from four villages of Ulunda and Birmaharajpur blocks of Odisha in the year 2019-2020. The results indicated that the majority of male (58.23%) and female (50%) weavers had normal Body Mass index. Both male and female respondents had low vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron intake in comparison to RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowances) irrespective of all BMI categories. It was interesting to note that the thiamine, riboflavin, and sodium intake of both male and female weavers were found to be excess in comparision to RDA. Niacin intake of both male and female weavers was found to be excess in comparision to RDA for Obese-II respondents i.e. 8.55% and 7.57%, respectively. No significant mean difference between actual zinc and potassium intake of the respondents in comparision to RDA, ICMR Gopalan et al. (2016) was found in this study

The work ethics of muslim woman Songket weavers in increasing family income: Sukarare tourism village, Indonesia

This study looks into the contribution of Muslim songket weavers' strong work ethics on raising family income in Sukarara Village, Indonesia. This study employs qualitative descriptive methods and ethnographic approaches to examine two factors that boost family income, namely work ethic and motivation in weaving. The weavers of Sukarara Village exhibit a great degree of discipline, accountability, devotion, thoroughness, tenacity, and patience in their job, according to this study. The main driving forces of weavers in Sukarara Village are self-actualization, culture, and religion. Sukarara Village's female weavers have been successful in raising their families' standard of life through the sale of fabric.

A Study of Socio-Economic Conditions of Handloom Weavers in Uttar Pradesh of India

This study examines the social and economic conditions of handloom weavers in Uttar Pradesh state of India. This study is primarily based on secondary data, and the data were evaluated using a simple percentage, an annual growth rate, and a compound annual growth rate. They were also shown in a pie chart and a bar chart. This study is based on the following key aspects such as location, age, gender, religion, social group, educational qualifications, type and size of family, employment status, type and ownership of dwelling units, ration card, source of loan and purpose of the loan, monthly household income from handloom-related activities, and ownership of looms. The study results indicated that most workers are men, and the number of women workers is not good. Most weavers in Uttar Pradesh are members of the Muslim religion or the OBC (Other Backward Class) social group. Most workers live in kutcha houses, especially in rural areas. In cities, more households live in pucca and semi-pucca houses than in rural areas. It was also found that most handloom workers (97.3%) have their own homes in rural areas. There aren't enough educated handloom weavers, and a study shows that most weavers have never been to school. It can be said that most of the weavers, or about 55 per cent, worked as independent weavers. About 40 per cent worked as master weavers. It was found that most, or 59.5 per cent, of weaver households, have an income of less than Rs. 5,000. It can be said that most (53.2% of the weaver households) have taken out a loan for handloom purposes. The study found that most (25.5%) handloom households got loans from the government, followed by commercial banks (21.9 per cent). It found that most weaver households (73.5% of them) work with looms and that 26.5 % of weaver household’s work without looms. The study found that more male weavers (66.1%) have bank accounts than female weavers (only 33.7%). The study found that more male weavers (66.1%) have bank accounts than female weavers (only 33.7%). It found that 62.4 per cent of male weavers and 37.5 per cent of female weavers have aadhar cards. Only two transgender people have Aadhar cards. Most households (60%) have a monthly household income of less than Rs. 5,000, but the monthly household income in cities is higher than in rural areas. It also shows that most of the sales of their main products come from the local market (46.1%) and master weaver (43.3 per cent).

Shifting Gender Roles of Females in the Indigenous Weaving Art of Daboya ‘Benchibi’ in Ghana

Benchibi is an indigenous woven fabric used predominantly to produce smocks (a traditional dress in the northern parts of Ghana). Historically, the production of Benchibi was the preserve of male-dominated occupations in the area. Traditionally, women's roles and participation in the production line of benchibi were to spin the cotton fibres into yarns and gather plants for preparing dyes. Women were not allowed to weave for cultural and traditional reasons based on taboos and superstitions. Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the production line of this indigenous craft. Females have broken the umbilical cord that prevents them from weaving. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the shifting gender roles in the production of Benchibi and what has necessitated the increased female participation in the once male-dominated occupation. The descriptive research method was used in the study, which was based on a qualitative research design. Observation and interviews were the instruments used for the data collection. For the study, purposive sampling techniques of expert and homogeneous types were used to select fifteen (15) female weavers. The descriptive method was used to analyze the data. The study revealed that self-motivation and passion sustained the females in acquiring skills for the industry through apprenticeship, leading to the break-down of the superstition and taboos associated with weaving in the community. The study concludes that the once common superstition that limited female involvement in the weaving tradition has been broken as many, through this business, have become self-sufficient. The study, therefore, recommends that more efforts be made by the females who have taken this bold decision and ventured into this male-dominated tradition of weaving to empower more females to take up the weaving business.

Evaluation and analysis of new design traditional handloom performance in reducing work musculoskeletal disorders among Sarong Samarinda female weavers: A quasi-experimental study.

Background:Work musculoskeletal disorder (WMSDs) are occupational health problems whose prevalence is still high in various countries. Ergonomic interventions are the most successful approach to reducing WMSDs. This study evaluated the effect of redesign traditional handloom on the work posture and musculoskeletal disorders of Samarinda Sarong traditional weavers.Methods:The quasi-experiment has been carried out on 40 traditional weavers from February to September 2019 in Samarinda, Indonesia. The weaver using the new design handloom then evaluated its impact on work posture and WMSDs in the first 3 months and the second 3 months. Work posture was assessed using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). WMSDs were assessed using a Nordic Body Map questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Dunn's test.Results:The RULA score decreased from 7 to 3 and 2, while the WMSD risk at “very high” level decreased from 12.5% to 7.5% and 2.5% and the WMSD at “high” risk level decreased from 87.5% to 10.0% and 5.0% following the introducing of the new design traditional handloom at 3 and 6 months, respectively.Conclusions:The new design of the traditional handloom on Sarong Samarinda female weavers has succeeded in improving work posture and reducing WMSDs.

Physiological Aspects of Cordillera Weaving in the Philippines

This novel study examined the physiological aspects of weaving among 20 female weavers from the Cordillera Region of Northern Luzon, Philippines. Demographic profile and anthropometric measures were gathered, heart rate (HR) and posture were continuously monitored while the weavers performed a 30-min weaving task. Data were analyzed using mean ± standard deviation and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to identify any relationship. Analysis was conducted using a commercial statistical package (SPSS version 25, IBM, Chicago, IL) with alpha set at 0.05 level. Data revealed that the weavers’ blood pressure is at the prehypertension stage, body fat percentage relative to age is average, BMI value is classified as overweight, and WHR value showed that they are at risk from metabolic disorders. Results also showed that the occupational demands of weaving presented low cardiovascular workload and increased task difficulty resulted to more forward lean among weavers. Additionally, there was a linear relationship between HR and posture. These findings suggest the potential for increased risk for musculoskeletal injuries with weaving.

Analisis Peran Gender Suami Dan Istri Dalam Rumah Tangga Penenun Kain Songket (Studi Kasus Di Kelurahan Tuan Kentang Kecamatan Seberang Ulu 1 Kota Palembang)

This study aims to analyze and describe gender equality in the household of female songket weavers in Tuan Kentang Village, Seberang Ulu 1 District, Palembang City. This study uses Harvard Analysis. The method used in this research is qualitative research methods. Data collection methods are observation, in-depth interviews and documentation. There are 7 informants in this study. The activity profile includes a description of the reproductive, productive and social division of labor. The access and control profile includes a description of the level of equity in access to resources, access to benefits, control over resources and control over benefits in the household. The results showed that, the household activities profile of women weaving Songket fabrics in Tuan Kentang Village is dominated by activities that are gender biased or have not provided equality for women (including the division of productive labor and the division of social labor). Meanwhile, the division of reproductive labor has a gender perspective in which control of benefits is carried out jointly between male and female. The access and control profile of resources and benefits in the household is generally responsive or women have a high degree of equality in access to and control of resources and benefits.

Transformation of women's leadership through producing natural-dyed hand-woven fabrics (ethnographic study on Palue weavers)

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to find an explanation for the transformation process of the Palue female weavers’ leadership, which changes along with changes in the use of color materials in the sarong from chemical colors that are harmful to health and not in accordance with tradition to natural color materials that are safer and in accordance with tradition. MethodsAn ethnographic approach was used in this study. Data collection was carried out for 17 months through direct involvement in the activities of producing natural-dyed and hand-woven traditional fabrics done by 15 families. ResultThe results showed that a transformation of leadership took place in each of these families. ConclusionReplacing chemicals with natural ingredients that are safer in sarong coloring, not only makes women healthier but also makes them a leader in the home industry as well as becoming more empowered and daring to pass on their sarong-making skills to the next generation because natural color materials are safe for children. Women are the managers of the home industry of making naturally dyed hand-woven fabrics, involving their husbands and children. There has been a cultural change in which husbands have been willing to help their wives with the dyeing and weaving works. Leadership by women in this home industry has an impact on the decision-making process in the family, cooperatives and community.

Weaving and Cultural Identity of Batak Toba Women

Women weavers in the Toba area, North Sumatera, Indonesia, are the main key to the continuation of the Toba’s Ulos cultural weaving and the preservation of artefacts through the process of the cultural inheritance. The women are spread in various regions around Lake Toba with a variety of their unique cultural characteristics reflected in their woven cloths. However, the existence of the women weavers has not been optimally empowered as a cultural heritage with high economic and artistic value. This study aims to uncover the social and cultural mapping of the current condition of Ulos Toba weavers by identifying female weavers in the Lake Toba region related to the inheritance of traditional weaving as the cultural identity of the Batak Toba. This research is expected to be the basis for designing strategies to utilize Ulos woven artefacts as one of the cultural heritages and identities in the Lake Toba region to provide sustainable benefits for the weavers, so that they can provide solutions to the problem of extinction threats to this Batak cultural inheritance. In detail, this study provides an overview of the social and economic conditions of women weavers in inheriting and maintaining Ulos weaving as a cultural identity of the Batak Toba community, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Are Moroccan Weavers Too Modern?

In the Sirwa, Morocco, female weavers produce beautiful carpets with great technical skills and creativity but receive very little financial gain for their artistry. This paper, based on a 17-month ethnographic research amongst Sirwa weavers between 2002 and 2005 confronts the representations and categories used by dealers to sell Moroccan carpets with the reality of production and procurement. Demystifying the selling discourse of dealers to highlight the impact these representations and practices have had on past and contemporary production, it shows that carpet dealers convey essentialist and out-of-date views of weavers and their communities, that do not acknowledge their creativity and modernity. From the colonial times to today, Moroccan weavers have produced and transformed carpets to suit their own taste, and that of their buyers, with creativity and skills.

Highland Peasant Weavers: Empowered Women, Heritage Keepers and Home Providers. Incakunaq Ruwaynin Project, Cusco, Peru

In Peru and other Latin American countries, traditional weaving with an ethnic1 identity is undertaken in rural communities as part of development strategies devised by both private-sector and state agencies to improve living conditions for populations at risk. The case we present here concerns privately funded female weavers’ associations that maintain ancestral forms of production, uses, and the symbolic references of traditional clothing but work within the changing context and demands of the Cusco tourist market. Sustainable efficient commercial mechanisms are challenges that must be addressed, but this should be done in close association with programs that aim to strengthen the weavers’ capacities. Otherwise this could frustrate local processes that could contribute to poverty alleviation and inequality. This case study illustrates how, in countries with deep and growing inequalities, various attempts and approaches are required in the process of linking cultural heritage to the contemporary market as an asset, to achieve development while retaining authentic identity.

Application of multiple‐response optimization methods for the ergonomic evaluation of carpet weaving knife

AbstractThe aim of this study is to evaluate several weaving knife configurations in response to multiple criteria’s for optimum design. Nine different knife combinations were tested over ten female weavers in a field experiment. Three levels of blade width and angular orientations were taken as the independent variables. Output response about goniometry and electromyography were taken as dependent variables. Multivariate analysis was carried out to estimate the effect of independent variables on output responses. To tackle the difficulty of knife selection with several output responses, three multicriteria optimization approaches have been compared. Multivariate analysis of variance results showed that the effect of both blade width and angle were significant at wrist angles. Also, the magnitude of effect size on both blade width and the angle was highest for the wrist angles. Despite the same weighing criteria, a slight difference was evident between the ranks from optimization methods. The higher blade widths and smaller angular orientations should be recommended for reduction of wrist deviation and muscle activity during weaving. The best possible combination of knife evaluated using multicriteria optimization was 25 mm × 100°.

Application of anthropometric approach in lessening disorders and stress-related issues

Local weaving is an occupation of making a local type of clothing in the South Western and some part of North-central Nigeria using local methods of weaving. This kind of clothing is called “aso-òkè”. This method is an age-long one, which persist until today. However, due to the shortage of white collar jobs and there is little or no production of clothing materials by the nation’s several textile companies coupled with the desire for the traditional wears as a form of social class, the number of youths involved in this vocation as a means of livelihood has increased considerably over the last few years. In consideration of previous studies, which have reported many health disorders and stress that arises from the uncomfortable sitting positions and unsuitable seats at work, anthropometric data obtained from some of the male local weavers in Ilorin, North-central Nigeria were analyzed. This study was designed to determine the ergonomic suitability of local weavers’ seat and to propose ergonomically viable dimensions that will lessen disorders and pains. A standard dimension of an ergonomic chair that will help ease the disorder and stress-related injuries and illness experienced by these workers was proposed. A total of 100 male local weavers participated in this study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, range and percentile. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the former seat being used and the anthropometric variables measured. The proposed dimensions from the study include Seat Height (40.3- 46.2 cm), Seat Breadth (36.5-41.8 cm) and Seat Backrest (49.6-60.2 cm). It was concluded that the seat being used by the local weavers in carrying out their daily work is not ergonomically suitable. Further studies that will include female weavers as well as weavers and other professionals from the South Western part of the country is envisaged. Apart from proposing standard dimension, this study presents several anthropometric data from North Central Nigerians, which could help production companies in the developing and developed world in designing appropriate workstations, worktables, office chairs for use in some part of the country.Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyVol. 13, No. 1, 2017, page: 45-55

Ergonomic evaluation of cumulative trauma disorders among female carpet weavers in India: guidelines to an effective sustainability in work system design

The development of cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) is the most common problem among weavers in hand-woven carpet industry. The main idea of this paper is shedding light on the problems encountered during hand weaving and establishes the guidelines to develop ergonomically efficient workstation for carpet weaving. Seventy-nine randomly selected female weavers were surveyed and the data about pain occurring in body regions were collected by questionnaire. Strain Index (SI) technique was used to identify the postural risks. Grip strength tests were conducted to assess the change in static muscle strength during weaving. Most of the participants reported discomfort in different body and palmar regions. There was a significant difference between the physical and physiological factors before and after weaving (p < 0.05). SI priority scores revealed that the working posture during weaving requires necessary action. As the main outcomes, recommended guidelines may help in designing ergonomically efficient work system to prevent CTDs among weavers.

Population genomics of Sociable Weavers Philetairus socius reveals considerable admixture among colonies

The evolution of sociality often leads to genetic structuring among groups and alters the evolutionary forces that the groups experience. Describing the genetic structuring of social species is, therefore, necessary to understand the selective forces that act on a species. While recent work has used genomic methods to investigate population structure in eusocial insects, relatively little genomic work has examined population structure in the largest non-human mammal and avian clades. We delimited population genetic structuring in Sociable Weavers (Philetairus socius), a passerine that lives in large, stable, perennial colonies, using the genotyping-by-sequencing approach to generate a dataset of several thousand SNPs. We used the SNPs to estimate genetic structuring within and among eight nests. While we document relatively low levels of genetic structuring among nests, the structuring was not explained by distance between nests. We also found significantly higher structuring among male Sociable Weavers compared to female weavers, suggesting that female Sociable Weavers are more prone to dispersal in this species. Not all nests represent distinct genetic groups according to Bayesian clustering analysis, which is unsurprising given the low differentiation among nests, especially compared to other social species. In almost all colonies there was less heterozygosity than expected, possibly due to reproductive skew within each colony.

An Exhibition Full of Troubling Charms: The Aït Khebbach Carpets at Musée Bargoin, Clermont-Ferrand, France

An Exhibition Full of Troubling Charms: The Aït Khebbach Carpets at Musée Bargoin, Clermont-Ferrand, France