Feminist Methods, Methodology and Interpretations on Displacement and Livelihood Issues: A Study of Women Tea Plantation Workers, North Bengal, India

Present paper examines methods and methodological concerns of few significant conceptual constructs based on inter-sectional variables like colonial history of tea plantations, feminization of workforce, political economy of displacement, issues of sustainable livelihood; gender, labour and identity crisis or gender, space & identity; and emerging feminization of underclass at the face of declining tea economy in North Bengal. Further, observational analysis post closure of tea gardens would be included to substantiate trend analysis from a feminists’ scholarship. It attempts to develop a theoretical discourse subsequently a tangible feminist framework keeping the gender- labour and displacement- livelihood issues at center space of the thematic dialogue.

Chronic closure of tea gardens in north Bengal has led to emergence of ‘women underclass’, a gendered impact of closure and displacement process.

Absence of active participation in Trade unions for women workers led to ‘identity crisis and marginalization’ post closure of tea gardens.