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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

Box 06: Case-05, a 38-year-old woman in Rejjipura

“We do home gardening in our homestead. We grow whatever possible

in it and sell a part of what we reap. Cannot earn big amount by this

work. Then how can we say that we are earning for our home. Husband
is the person who maintains the house. Every home of our village grows

whatever possible in their premises one or two cows are reared. Some

women work in coir making cottage industries. All these are named as
women’s work. Therefore, we cannot tell that we earn for the basic

needs of our family with this little earning.

Source; Field Study, 2014/2016.

The income derived from home gardening is not reckoned as an income due to the

instability and non-regularity of such earning (Box 07). However, women’s earning

by some formal jobs regularly is reckoned as an income. This clarifies the gender
relationship on income earning in the family unit. This reveals the approach exist in

the rural community of both these villages about the contribution made to the family
income by women. There had been shown the pride regarding the jobs or works

belong to males’ domain (Pinnawela, 2013:172).

Box 07. Case-06, a 34-year-old woman in Rejjipura

“It is hardly enough to drag on life from what my husband earns. As
such, I am compelled to seek work. It is not a permanent job. It is true

that we get meagre wages. My husband shoulders most of the burden. We
find it difficult to live by his earnings. That is why, you can understand,

why I am engaged as a labour.”

Source; Field Study, 2014/2016

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