A MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY AMONG FISHERWOMEN IN COASTAL KERALA USING PUSH-PULL THEORY APPROACH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/eijhss.v9i3.248Abstract
This study investigates the occupational transitions of fisherwomen in Kerala, India, through a comprehensive multidimensional push-pull framework, integrating personal, social, institutional, and economic factors. The survey data collected from the coastal districts of Trivandrum, Kollam, and Alappuzha, the research examines how a combination of health hazards, unsafe workplace conditions, domestic responsibilities, social stigma, lack of recognition, policy interventions, and access to entrepreneurial avenues influence fisherwomen’s decisions to shift occupations. By employing descriptive statistics and independent t-tests, the study compares intra-sector mobility (within the fisheries sector) and inter-sector mobility (into non-fisheries occupations), showing distinct push and pull factors in each group. The theoretical grounding incorporates Human Capital Theory, Push-Pull Theory, Structural Mobility Theory, and Social Network Theory, enabling a nuanced understanding of how educational attainment, structural economic changes, and social relationships mediate occupational change. Findings underline the pivotal role of institutional facilitation, economic incentives, social capital, and personal agency in shaping pathways of occupational mobility. The results reveal that occupational transitions are not solely driven by economic need but also by aspirations for dignity, and sustainable livelihoods, positioning fisherwomen as active agents in reshaping their socioeconomic realities.
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