Historical position of women workers in the tea gardens of North Bengal

Suraksha Tamang

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.74676

Historical position of women workers in the tea gardens of North Bengal

Author(s)	Ms. Suraksha Tamang
Country	India
Abstract	Women have played a vital role in the labour force of tea plantations across the Indian Subcontinent, significantly contributing to the plantation economy since its inception. However, they have endured consistently vulnerable and degrading conditions, suffering from hardships that date back to the colonial era and continuing under elite Indian planters. The pervasive belief that women are inherently less capable than men is a longstanding issue; this notion has facilitated the exploitation of women across various contexts throughout history. Furthermore, the legal frameworks of many religious traditions have often marginalized women's roles, further entrenching their subjugation. This article examines the persistent hierarchy and division of labour in the tea gardens of West Bengal, where women experience exploitation in multiple spheres, both in terms of labour and sexual harassment, all rooted in an entrenched patriarchal structure It argues how patriarchal hegemony has historically been used to exploit female workers, particularly during the colonial era when planters relied on this system to create a consistent labour force while keeping wages low. It highlights that women have often been regarded as secondary within this patriarchal framework, leading to ongoing inequalities. The remnants of this exploitation continue to be evident in the tea gardens, where the same patriarchal structures persistently undermine women's status and devalue their labour.
Keywords	Women, Gender, Labour, Feminization, Patriarchy, Plantation.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-16
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.74676

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Historical position of women workers in the tea gardens of North Bengal

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