A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM : A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANGAMI AND CHAKHESANG WOMEN THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOCIOLOGY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES NAGALAND UNIVERSITY BY MEDONUO PIENYÜ Ph. D. REGISTRATION NO. 357/ 2008 UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROF. KSHETRI RAJENDRA SINGH DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY NAGALAND UNIVERSITY H.Qs. LUMAMI, NAGALAND, INDIA NOVEMBER 2013 I would like to dedicate this thesis to my Mother Mrs. Mhasivonuo Pienyü who never gave up on me and supported me through the most difficult times of my life. NAGALAND UNIVERSITY (A Central University Estd. By the Act of Parliament No 35 of 1989) Headquaters- Lumami P.O. Mokokchung- 798601 Department of Sociology Ref. No……………. Date………………. CERTIFICATE This is certified that I have supervised and gone through the entire pages of the Ph.D. thesis entitled “A Sociological Study of Unemployment Problem: A Comparative Study of Angami and Chakhesang Women” submitted by Medonuo Pienyü. This is further certified that this research work of Medonuo Pienyü, carried out under my supervision is her original work and has not been submitted for any degree to any other university or institute. Supervisor Place: (Prof. Kshetri Rajendra Singh) Date: Department of Sociology, Nagaland University Hqs: Lumami DECLARATION The Nagaland University November, 2013. I, Miss. Medonuo Pienyü, hereby declare that the contents of this thesis is the record of my work done and the subject matter of this thesis did not form the basis of the award of any previous degree to me or to the best of my knowledge to anybody else, and that thesis has not been submitted by me for any research degree in any other university/ institute. This is being submitted to the Nagaland University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology. Candidate (MEDONUO PIENYÜ) Head Supervisor (DR. TOSHIMENLA JAMIR) Prof. KSHETRI RAJENDRA SINGH Contents Acknowledgements i Preface iv List of Tables xii List of Diagrams xiv List of Maps xv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Statement of the Problem 1 1.2 Extent of Women’s Unemployment 4 1.3 Review of Literature as Theoretical Framework 6 1.3.1 Defining Unemployment in the Context of Naga Women 8 1.3.2 Methods to Measure Unemployment in Different 9 Parts of the World 1.3.3 The Concept of Unemployment: Divergent Views 12 1.4 Objective of the Study 30 1.5 Hypothesis of the Study 31 1.6 Scope of the Study 31 1.7 Methodology 31 CHAPTER 2: ANGAMI AND CHAKHESANG TRIBES: HISTORY, SOCIETY AND ECONOMY 2.1 Socio- Cultural Profile of Kohima and Phek Districts 36 2.1.1 Kohima District and Phek District 37 2.1.2 Historical Events in Kohima and Phek Districts 39 2.2 Social Organization of the Angami and Chakhesang Societies 42 2.2.1 Village and its Organisation 44 2.2.2 Family 47 2.2.3 Property, Succession and Inheritance 48 2.2.4 Marriage and Divorce 49 2.2.5 Birth and Death 51 2.2.6 Religion 53 2.2.7 Politico-Juridical Administration 54 2.2.8 Economy 56 CHAPTER 3: WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT IN THE ANGAMI AND CHAKHESANG TRADITIONS 3.1 Traditional Practices of Angami and Chakhesang Women 62 3.1.1 Family, Societal and Economic Role 63 3.1.2 Customary Laws: Taboos or Gennas 68 3.2 Impact of British Rule on Angami and Chakhesang Women 72 3.2.1 Colonial and Post Colonial Period 73 3.2.2 The Present Scenario: Change and Continuity 76 3.3 Unemployment Among the Angami and Chakhesang Women 79 3.3.1 Traditional Practices as Causal Factor for Women’s Unemployment 85 3.4 The Present Employment Status 89 3.4.1 Factors Affecting Choice of Job 89 3.4.2 Job Preferences 91 3.4.3 Status of Employment Registrations 93 ix 3.4.4 Status of Job Attempt 94 3.4.5 Specification for failure in Job Attempt 95 CHAPTER 4: SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE ANGAMI AND CHAKHESANG WOMEN 4.1 Demographic Profile of the Women Under Study 98 4.1.1 Age Group 98 4.1.2 Family Structure and Family Size 100 4.1.3 Marital Status 103 4.2 Economic Status of the Women Under Study 105 4.2.1 Parental Occupation 106 4.2.2 Husband’s Occupation 107 4.2.3 Total Monthly Family Income 109 4.3 Social Background of the Women Under Study 112 4.3.1 Academic Qualifications 112 4.3.2 Status of Coaching, Technical and Professional Courses 114 4.4 Extent and Nature of Unemployment 118 4.4.1 Types of Unemployment 118 4.4.2 Education and Unemployment 123 4.4.3 The Extent of Unemployed Situations Among the Educated Women 125 CHAPTER 5: THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF WOMEN’S UNEMPLOYMENT 5.1 Causes of Unemployment 130 5.2 Factors Aggravating Unemployment 134 5.2.1 Modern Development 134 5.2.2 Tradition-Modern Interface 135 5.2.3 Population Growth 136 5.2.4 Technology 139 5.2.5 Government Policies, Schemes and Measures 142 5.2.6 Educational System 145 5.2.7 Industry, Trade Cycle and Business 147 x 5.3 Consequences of Unemployment 151 5.4 Solving Women’s Unemployment Problem 154 5.4.1 Role of Voluntary Organisations 155 5.4.2 Role of Self-Help Group (SHG) 157 5.4.3 Role of Various Women’s Organizations 159 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION 6.1 The Situation 166 6.2 Understanding Women’s Unemployment 179 6.3 Going Beyond Commonalities 181 6.4 Suggestions as Policy Implications 183 Appendix 187 Bibliography 194 xi LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Perception about the Role of Christianity 77 Table 3.2: Views on Customs, Beliefs and Traditional Practices 87 Table 3.3: Views on the Factors Affecting the Choice of Job 90 Table 3.4: Views on Job Preferences 91 Table 3.5: Specifications For Failure in Job Attempt 95 Table 4.1: Age Structure of Angami and Chakhesang Women 99 Table 4.2: Family Structure of Angami and Chakhesang Women 100 Table 4.3: Family Size of Angami and Chakhesang Women 102 Table 4.4: Marital Status of the Angami and Chakhesang Women 104 Table 4.5: Parental Occupation of the Unemployed Angami and Chakhesang Women 106 Table 4.6: Husband’s Occupation of the Unemployed Angami and Chakhesang Women 108 Table 4.7: Total Family Income of the Unemployed Angami and Chakhesang Women 109 Table 4.8: Academic Qualifications of the Angami and Chakhesang Women 113 Table 4.9: Attended Coaching, Technical Training and Professional Courses 114 Table 4.10: Types of Unemployment Among Angami and Chakhesang Women 119 Table 4.11: Types of Unemployment Based on Educational Status 124 Table 4.12: Are You Satisfied With Your Educational Qualification? 126 Table 4.13: Reasons for Dissatisfaction in the Educational Status 127 Table 5.1: Causes of Unemployment Among Angami and Chakhesang Women 131 Table 5.2: Views on Population Growth 138 Table 5.3: Views on Modern Technology 141 Table 5.4: Views on Governmental Policies, Schemes and Measures 144 Table 5.5: Views On Educational System 146 Table 5.6: Views on Industry, Trade Cycle and Business 149 Table 5.7: Consequences of Unemployment on Angami and Chakhesang Women 152 Table 5.8: Views on the Role of Voluntary Organisations 156 Table 5.9: Views on the Role of Self Help Group (SHG) 158 Table 5.10: Views on Women’s Organisations 161 xiii LIST OF DIAGRAMS Fig. 1: Diagrammatic Representation of Employment Registrations 93 Fig. 2: Diagrammatic Representation of Job attempt 94 Fig. 3: Family Structure of Angami and Chakhesang Women 101 Fig. 4: Family Size of Angami and Chakhesang Women 103 Fig. 5: Marital Status of Angami and Chakhesang Women 104 Fig. 6: Total Family Income of the Unemployed Angami and Chakhesang Women 110 Fig. 7: Diagrammatic Representation of Coaching Attended 115 Fig. 8: Diagrammatic Representation of Technical Training 115 Fig. 9: Diagrammatic Representation of Professional Courses 116 Fig. 10: Types of Unemployment Among Angami and Chakhesang Women 122 Fig. 11: Causes of Unemployment Among Angami and Chakhesang Women 133 Chapter 1 Introduction Since the UN declaration of 1975 as International Women’s year, a new wave of studies focusing on women has become popular all over the world. This is an indication that women are striving for equality and that their role cannot be understated. Various plans and strategies undertaken during the last four decades have not succeeded in finding a solution to the problem of discrimination against women. Women have been recognized as the most vital section of the community but they continue to be unequal. This situation is seen among others, in the problem of unemployment among women but most studies have overlooked or neglected this issue. The present study is an attempt to compensate for this lacuna in the studies on the role of employment in women’s status through an attempt to understand the causes of high unemployment between two tribes of Nagaland viz. the Angami and the Chakhesang. An attempt has been made in the present study to understand its causes by looking at their socio-economic background, by soliciting the opinion of Angami and Chakhesang women and by getting their suggestions, preferences, expectations, social problems and their impact on them. 1.1 Statement of The Problem Unemployment is a universal phenomenon and a chronic problem common to all societies of the world, both to the rural and urban sectors. Unemployment implies lack of avenues for work that generates income for those who are willing to be employed.