Breaking Barriers: Analysing Gender Dynamics and Occupational Trends Among Women Workers in the Kashmir Valley

Abstract

This study analyses the district-wise distribution of female occupational patterns in the Kashmir Valley to understand how cultural and traditional progression influences workforce participation. The occupations of the respondents were divided into three sectors: Primary, secondary, and tertiary, according to the codes given in the reliable and standardized National Industrial Classification 2008 (NIC-2008).  The standard deviation method was used to understand the degree of variation of the occupation across the districts.  The values for high concentration in the primary sector are calculated to be (48.62-64.24%), Medium (33-48.62%), and low (<33%). For the secondary sector, it was calculated to be (33.08-43.72%) for high concentration, Medium (22.44-33.08 %), and low (<22.44%). For the tertiary sector, high concentration values were (67-6-90.64 %), Medium (44.56-67.6%), and low (<44.56%). The Kulgam district has the highest concentration of females in the primary sector, while Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, and Pulwama have the lowest. Ganderbal leads in the secondary sector, with lower concentrations in Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Shopian, and Srinagar. For the tertiary sector, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, and Budgam have the highest concentrations, while Kulgam, Kupwara, and Shopian have the lowest. The findings from primary and secondary data reveal that a vast gender gap was observed in employment across districts. Develop policies to address gender disparities, focusing on increasing female representation in marginalized sectors.