Does the labour market in the peri-urban region has a gender-neutral structure? An explorative analysis

Freedom to work in the wake of expanding opportunities is a fair choice in an egalitarian society. However, women who are conventionally identified as homemakers, are often faced with several constraints to enter into a paid job resulting in a gendered labour market. Even in the era of urbanization, the situation is not so different as evident from the depressing Female Work Participation Rates (FWPR). This study, hence, focuses on the nature of the gender gap in peri-urban areas of Hyderabad Metropolitan Region since peri-urban spaces capture changes better. Based on the census survey data, FWPR in the rural and urban fringes of peri-urban study locations were estimated. The study reveals that urban sprawl does not guarantee a working environment for men and women equally and women are either pushed out of the workforce or are rendered with marginal works. ‘A gendered society in developing world’ was pictured and occupational segregation was also observed in the study locations. It was also observed that decline in FWPR is more of a rural phenomenon and hence policies favouring rural women, giving due support to urban women are to be formulated. In short, the existence of a ‘gender-neutral workspace’ should no longer remain hearsay.