Name: Kumari Monika & Niranjna Bhandari
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-11, Issue-1, January-June 2026
Page Number: 47-55
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18708648

ABSTRACT
The interplay of gender and caste significantly shapes patterns of work participation and empowerment among Scheduled Caste women. The paper explores the interrelationship between caste and gender, along with regional disparities and structural barriers that restrict the economic progress and work participation of scheduled caste women. It examines how deep-rooted societal hierarchies
and unequal power dynamics still restrict their access to decision-making, productive resources, participation in economic activities and employment. Descriptive statistical tools were employed to calculate work participation rates, gender-based disparities, and district-wise variations. Tables, percentages, and comparative analysis were used to interpret the data effectively. Using the intersectionality paradigm as a guide, the paper describes how caste and gender work together to produce a variety of layered kinds of economic difficulty. The paper concludes that district-level gender disparities are deeply shaped by regional inequalities and caste-based patriarchal structures. It
further emphasizes that higher female participation in certain tribal areas often stems from economic necessity rather than genuine empowerment. It further argues that acknowledging and strengthening the economic role of SC women in Himachal Pradesh is essential for overall development. The findings are intended to inform policymakers who genuinely address the unique challenges of SC women, enabling them to assert economic agency and contribute meaningfully to local, regional and national economies.

Keywords: Caste Discrimination, Empowerment, Gender-Caste Nexus, SC Women, Social Exclusion, Sociology