Stress Assessment and Management among Rural and Urban Fisherwomen in Puducherry

Abstract

Women are an integral and inalienable part of the society, constituting about half of the total population of the world. The holistic development and harmonious growth of a nation would be possible only when women are given their desired place and position in the society and are treated as equal partners of progress with men. Empowerment involves both individual and newlinecollective actions for greater participation and sustainable development. Of all newlinethese factors of women s development, their economic independence or economic empowerment is of cardinal significance for a lasting total development of the society. Women, in direct or indirect association with newlinemenfolk, contribute a great deal to the growth of Indian economy (Nune, 2008). newlineWoman has multiple roles to play in any society. Women s participation in diverse occupations like agriculture, fishing, rearing livestock, horticulture, newlinecarpentry, masonry, weaving, etc, is on par with men. As the mistress of the newlinehouse, her role in the family has to be played very cautiously. Women have newlinecome to occupy plum positions and have also proved their mettle in their roles newlinein a remarkable manner. Despite all these inherent merits, gender-bias towards women has been the real curse in the society. newlineWomen in India, just like any other women in the developing world, spend most of their time in evenly balancing the household responsibilities and the professional demands. This equipoise is mandatory to render justice to her domestic welfare and has to generate the needed income to sustain a family (Singh et al., 2011). Women carry, on an average, 53 per cent of the total burden of work in developing countries compared to 51 per cent in industrial countries (Thakur and Kumar, 2008).