A study on Socio-economic status with special reference to their contribution to the

economy in select suburbs of Coimbatore City

Introduction
The single women are emerging phenomena in the 21st century. They are the force to reckon
with and have the potential to change the course of the near future. Singleness is not an active,
homogenous category. It is porous, a wide spectrum, and extremely heterogeneous. The
conventional dictionary definition of a ‘single’ woman is an adult female person who is not
married. The National Forum, however, complicates the definition of a single woman as a
‘woman who is not living with a man in a marital like relationship’ and includes widows,
divorced and separated women and unmarried women above the age of 25 (these are its
qualifications for becoming members of the single women’s collectives).

The social, demographic or administrative category of ‘single’ is a slippery one to work with,
since there exists wide diversity within this group, all of which needs to be accounted for in
constructing a social understanding as well as while framing policies. As singleness is seen as
a ‘troubled’ (or troubling?) category in society, and in opposition to marriage which is
strongly associated with ‘well being’ in the western world as much as in Asian societies, the
careful unpacking of categories of singleness becomes very important. Within each category
of single women, too, there exists diversity in living conditions depending on their class, race,
ethnicity, caste, or age positions in a given context. Certainly, they are bound to play a very
active and all-important role in the all-round peace, progress and prosperity of the country in
this 21st century. The objective of the study is to explore the status and challenges of the
single women with the greater emphasis on the single women in Mumbai and proposes new
means to facilitate their safety, security and social wellbeing that would help enhance the
happiness index of single women in India

PREAMBLE
Women who are alone despite living spouses are even more discriminated against in a
patriarchal society. ‘They are described as women “even more despised… in a twilight zone
of neither being respectably married nor widowed—especially, those who have themselves
left their partners”.
Women who leave or flee from their homes mainly due to violent spouses and sometimes
extreme economic distress, mostly stay alone on city streets, frequently falling prey to
unremitting sexual violence. Further, the lack of sanitation facilities, healthcare and education
for their children adds to their difficulties.
According to the 2001 census, 7.4 per cent of the female population of India is ‘single’. There
were 3,43,89,729 widows in India, and 23,42,930 divorced/separated women—a total of
3,67,32,659 single women. ‘This figure is likely to increase with the inclusion of
“customarily” separated women and women whose husbands are missing.’ There was a 39%
increase in the number of single women in India, the numbers rising from 51.2 million in
2001 to 71.4 million in 2011, according to census data. This includes widows, divorcees and
unmarried women, and those deserted by husbands. “The reasons for the increase in
population of single women are divorce, separation as well as widowhood,” said Nirmal
Chandel, president of the National Forum of Single Women’s Rights, an advocacy. In
Mumbai, as of 2011 census there are 853 females per 1000 male in the city. Sex ratio in
general caste is 846, in schedule caste is 950 and in schedule tribe is 892. There are 913 girls
under 6 years of age per 1000 boys of the same age in the city.

Description 2011 2001

Population 30.85 Lakhs 33.38 Lakhs
Actual Population 3,085,411 3,338,031
Male 1,684,608 1,878,246
Female 1,400,803 1,459,785
Population Growth -7.57% 5.14%
(Source: Census Mumbai 2011)

In India, the heteronormative family model is widely considered socially and culturally to be
the ideal model for societal organisation, and singleness is seen as a deviation from normal.
There exists, possibly, significant rural-urban differences in social constructions and
acceptance of single women. Writing in the context of America, Fuguitt et al. (1989:192)
argue: ‘The greater representation of single, ever-divorced, or ever-widowed women in urban
areas is the result of migration of such women from rural areas to urban
…. For women supporting themselves, cities have offered more opportunities.’

This finding could hold true also in the Indian context. Cities produce many challenges for
dignified and safe survival, but they are also sites of escape from the often cast-iron bonds of
caste and gender. Urban areas generally offer more opportunities for work for single women.
In contexts of dwindling community and familial support, single women may prefer to
migrate to urban areas in search of sustenance.
GLOBAL SCENARIO
Around the world, marriage is in decline and single living is on the rise. The globalization of
the American brand of “individualis ” is a well documented phenomena (Berkovitch &
Bradley, 1999; Genov, 1997) and has raised the bar on the qualities needed in an acceptable
mate. The meaning of marriage as a form of relationship and a type of behaviour has
undergone substantial change in the last half century in many South-east and East Asia
countries, including Indonesia (Jones 2004; Hull 2002; Malhotra 1997). In 2000, the
proportion still single at ages 45–49 in Bangkok had leaped to 17 per cent, 13 per cent for
Singapore-Chinese, 10 per cent for Kuala Lumpur-Chinese and 15 per cent in Yangon (Jones
2004). Many studies in Western countries suggested the state of being single is a result of a
complex interaction between structural, cultural and biographical aspects of life (Gordon
1994; Allen 1989, Stein 1985). Worldwide, it has increased by 1.2 percentage points, from 3.1
percent to 4.3 percent. The biggest increase occurred in Australia and New Zealand, a
remarkable increase of 9.7 percentage points, from just 4.4 percent in 1990 to 14.1 percent in
2010. (Other research shows that in Australia, lifelong single women with no children are
doing great.) The smallest increase, of just 0.2 percentage points, occurred in Central and
Southern Asia. In some large cities in South-east Asia such as Manila, Bangkok, Singapore,
Kuala Lumpur and Yangon the rates of never-marriage of women in their thirties and forties
are so high that there seems to be an avoidance of marriage. The UN report was subtitled,
“Progress of the World’s Women 2019-2020,” and focused on the implications of global
changes for women. With regard to the worldwide delay of marriage, for those who do marry,
the report noted: “This has enabled women to complete their education, gain a stronger
foothold in the labor market, and support themselves financially.”
Review of literature
Today ‘Women’s Studies’ has developed as an important area of social research. This study
specially focuses on various genders related issues and gender roles in different areas and
different strata. The literature in this area is too voluminous and it is difficult to review it
completely. An attempt made to review some major studies on gender that have direct or
indirect relevance to the present study are given the priority.

The Jayaprakash Institute of Social Change (2001) carried out a study on different religious
communities. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Parsis are governed by different marriage and
divorce laws. The Muslim law is basically uncodified. The main objectives of the study were
to know the family background and socio-economic condition of divorced/ separated Muslim
women; and explore the causes and situations which compelled them for divorce or
separation. The total population of divorced or separated women in ruraland urban areas of
Midnapore district was 6,552 in 1995-1996. 10 respondents each from four districts, namely,
Panskuta, Keshpur, MidnaporeSadar, and Kharagpur were chosen. About 49% respondents
were illiterate to just literate; and only 4% female membersfrom upper class Muslim families
were studying. Many of the divorced and separated women were not able to earn anything
(16%). Other women‟s earnings ranged from Rs.500 to Rs.2500. Around 10% male members
got married once, 57% respondents‟ male partners married twice, 31% married three times,
and 2% married 4 times. In 78% cases, the respondents were forced by their male partners to
get divorced, while 22% respondents willingly separated from their former husbands. The
reasons for divorce were extra marital affairs (20%); economic crisis (22%); maladjustment
with spouse (20%); and other reasons (12%). 78% deserted or divorced women had not
received any money or assets from their husbands. In most cases, the respondents got help
from their parents (49%); 20% from nearest friends; 25% from brothers and only 6% from
neighbours. Children faced many problems relating to the divorce and separation of their
parents. The study recommended postponement of the age of marriage through legal
reformation, compulsory education for Muslim girl children, and preparing a situation -based
realistic basic education system. Court marriage should be made compulsory under the
observation of any officer, and the quota for vulnerable sections of women should be
sanctioned, to increase their political participation and for the betterment of their life.

Chowdhury and Bhuiya (2001) found that the microcredit programmes were linked to
emotional well-being among vulnerable women. In a study assessing the effects of a credit-
based, income-generating programme on the participants‟ emotional well-being in
Bangladesh, it was found that contributing to household income and holding land were
positively related to emotional well-being.

Brown and Chowdhury (2002) showed the situation of divorcedor separated Muslim women
in India and observed that, while many “return to their birth family‟s home for shelter”,
some...have poor relationships with their brothers” and may not be allowed to return. In West
Bengal, “these women become landless and destitute despite the fact that their birth family or
in-laws own agricultural land”.

Deshpande (2002) revealed that marginalization and social exclusion had considerably
increased among vulnerable groups world-wide. Women continued to make up the majority of
people with limited financial resources and opportunities, constraining their life chances, and
placing them at risk for exclusion. The Indian society has not been untouched by this
phenomenon. Indeed, Indian women, especially from marginalized groups suchas Dalits,
widowed and abandoned women continued to experience greater risks for marginalization and
exclusion.

Khan (2003) found that the situation of separated Muslim women could be distinguished from
that of divorced Muslim women in at least one crucial respect: the prospect of remarriage. In
this respect, the information suggested that, while remarriage could remedy the socio-
economic hardships faced by divorced women, the option would practically be closed to
separated Muslim women who had not filed for divorce or received their entitlements,
including the return of the dower (mehar).

Padman and Razeena (2003) revealed the psychological resources and psycho-social needs of
destitute women living in MahilaMandirs, personality profiles, levels of emotional maturity,
adjustment capability, and the problems faced y the inmates of Mahila Mandirs, and examined
the implementation of various rehabilitation programmes. The data was collected through
field survey from 121 inmates living in 11 Mahila Mandirs, and in addition, from 50 slum
dwellers who were deserted. The age of the inmates ranged from 26-56 years and nearly 90%
of them belonged to low socio-economic status. Many inmates suffered from various psycho-
somatic illnesses. The authorities of the Mahila Mandirs reported that destitute women were
extroverted, easily suggestible, irresponsible, unskilled, highly emotional, maladjusted, and
their coping skills were extremely poor. Institutions and care homes had not given any
importance to the rehabilitationof these women, especially in the areas of health, education
and self-employment, or made any attempt in the area of distress management and legal aid
for abandoned and deserted women. There was requirement for skills training and short-term
personalitydevelopment courses for destitute women. Purna (2003) found that if separated,
single or divorced women did not enjoy financial or housing support from their kin they
needed to provide for themselves and their children. They needed to secure employment,
which paid adequately to maintain the family and possibly pay for accommodation (which in
itself is not easy for an unmarried woman to obtain). If legal action was required (for
maintenance or divorce, etc.), the women needed to pay for this. The Indian state does not
provide much in the way of legal aid, and there are but few NGOs, which are able to provide
legal support in such cases. It is most likely that the women would have to engage lawyers at
commercial rates, which were likely to be prohibitive.Nanivadekar (2004) revealed the trends
and traumas of families in India, through a record of 16,270 cases out of total 3,00,000 cases
registered with the Family CounsellingCentres (FCCs). The data was gathered from 91 FCCs
from seven states, namely, Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh,
Meghalaya, and Manipur. The results revealed the following reasons for discord in the family
–alcohol/ drug addiction (11.94%), personality clash (8.87%), extra-marital/ pre-marital
affairs (8.20%), interference of parents (6.7%), psychological problems (4.78%), dowry
demand (4.55%), economic crisis/ poverty (4.43%), harassment by in-laws (3.73%), desertion
(2.92%), interference by in-laws (2.1%), physical or mental torture (2.05%), and conflict with
other relatives (1.87%). The findings highlighted the need for a gender-sensitive family
centered approach to be adopted in counselling practices of FCCs, and suggested that
activities like awareness generation camps should be organized combined with pre-marital
counselling for prevention of family discord.
The Department of Women's Studies, Sri PadmavatiMahilaVisvavidyalayam (2004) identified
the factors leading to the desertion of women by NRIs. Married women of Andhra Pradesh,
who were deserted by NRIs, constituted the sample of the study. Data was collected by
purposive sampling procedure from Family Courts in Hyderabad, Vijaywada, and Guntur
Civil Court, which represented the coastal Andhra region. Interview schedule, mailed
questionnaire, and case study methods were employed in this study. Most women got married
above the legal age of marriage. More than 75% males married after attaining 25 years, while
23% of them married when they were between 21-25 years. More than 80% women had less
than one month gap between betrothal and marriage. About 60% of them were Hindus,
followed by 28% Muslims, and 12% Christians. Around 80% respondents reported that their
parents were the persons who took the decisions regarding marriage. Around 60% of them
opined that they saw their spouse only once when they came to see the girls. About 87% of
them reported that there was no mediation between them before desertion. Nearly 33% of the
respondents reported that they did not have any knowledge about the procedures to be
followed for their visit and stay abroad.

Jobbi (2005) identified the motivating factors and social causes driving NRI (Nonresidential
Indians) boys and Indian girls to enter such marriages and the coping mechanisms of deserted
women. The study was conducted by the investigator in the two cities of Punjab, namely,
Jalandhar and Hoshipur on a sample of 26 deserted women. According to the parents of girls,
dowry was the main reason for breakup of the marriage. The girl suffered physical violence,
mental torture, and unreasonable demands made by the groom‟s family.

The All India Democratic Women's Association (2005) found that India has the largest
Muslim population (18%) in the world after Indonesia. Muslim women in India can be said to
be a discriminated minority community. Reforms in Muslim personal law are often opposed
by sections within the community in the name of protection of minority identity. Reforms
were demanded by women‟s groups, activists and other liberal sections of society in
consonance with the constitutional provisions of equality and non-discrimination on the
grounds of sex.

After the Shah Bano judgment given by the Supreme Court of India (1985) and the passing of
the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights and Divorce) Act, 1986, the demand for a Uniform
Civil Code was dropped by most progressive and liberal women‟s organizations and groups,
who then started emphasizing on reforms on various personal laws from within the
community. They argued that the Shariat envisages gender equality, but had been deliberately
misinterpreted by patriarchal and fundamentalist interests. The Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) provided a comprehensive
framework to challenge the various forces that have created and sustained discrimination
based on sex. Since Article 5(a) of the CEDAW Convention asks all States to take appropriate
measures to modify conduct to achieve “elimination of prejudices and customary and other
practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes or
on stereo type rules for men and women”. This stand has obvious implications for reform in
women‟s status in India, as the retention of the inferior status of women in the family is often
justified in the name of cultureand tradition.

The Refugee Review Tribunal (2006) revealed that women who were divorced, separated,
widowed and abandoned women featured disproportionately in the industry of prostitution.
There was no certainty that separated women in India could find paid work and the possibility
that they were cajoled or forced into dangerous work, such as prostitution, was great. The UN
has noted that it was difficult to find paid work in India, including for graduates, and the long-
standing gender occupation segregation was slow to change. While some employment
opportunities for women were improving they tended to be in the poorer paid and more
insecure sectors.

According to the Planning Commission of India (2006), women tend to be the most
commonly landless and are the poorest even among poor households. At the same time, in the
rare cases where women have land or a house of their own, it was found to make a critical
difference to them and their family‟s welfare. For instance, such women faced less risk of
destitution and domestic violence, and improved economic well-being. The welfare of their
children also improved. A mother‟s assets were found to have a greater positive effect on
children‟s nutrition, education, and health than the father‟s assets. Women also tended to
spend more of their income on the children‟s needs than men. Allotments made to women,
would therefore, benefit both poor women and their families.

NIPCCD (2007) found that Andhra Pradesh and Punjab states in India have the large number
of NRIs working in North America, South America, Australia, Canada, and the Gulf
countries. More than two-third of the NRI marriages turned out to be fraudulent matrimonial
alliances. There were thousands of such deserted women in India, especially in the states of
Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. NRI-deserted women mostly belonged to middle and upper
socio-economic class of families. Andhra Pradesh, which is presently gaining importance in
global market, especially in the field of Information Technology, sends a large numberof men
from India to foreign countries. Many of them lure innocent brides from Andhra Pradesh
informing falsely that they work in established companies. Only after marriage the bride‟s
family realizes that they have been cheated. The data collected from Punjab revealed that
most of these marriages were arranged through relatives. The anxiety of the parents of girls
had led to hurried marriages with NRIs without verifying their antecedents. The brides dream
of an affluent life abroad, and therefore, look toNRI bridegrooms to improve their social
status in the society. The NRI husbands on their part lured women with the promise of a
luxurious life abroad in exchange for a handsome dowry from the bride's parents, and then,
abandoned them within days, months or years.

A study done by SOPPECOM (2008) in the Daundtaluka of Pune district and Ghole ward of
Pune city in December 2008, to assess the extent and nature of desertion of women, was
noteworthy. The percentage of deserted women in the Daundtaluka region wasabout 5.92 per
cent. The highest incidents of desertion were reported amongst the Scheduled Castes (SCs),
Denotified Tribes (DTs), and Muslims. All these women had returned to their natal homes.
About 50 per cent of the deserted women were non-literate, the remaining being within the
category of secondary schooling. More than 70 per cent women were engaged in wage labour
of some kind. The highest numbers of women, about 40 per cent were involved in agricultural
labour and 33 per cent were involved in otherlabour activities that included working as
unorganized workers in new small-scale industries, as construction labourers, etc.

Ram (2008) analyzed the National Family Health Surveys 1998-99 and NFHS 2005-06. In
India, 13% of married women aged 15-49 years were childless according to the 1981 Census
(13.4% in rural areas and 11.3% in urban areas), compared to 16% in 2001 (15.6% in rural
areas and 16.1% in urban areas). About 4% of younger childless women aged 15-34 years
were divorced/ separated/ deserted asagainst just 1.5% among those with children. The
analyses further showed that women who remained childless faced many adverse results in
the form of divorce/desertion and discrimination.

Kotwal and Prabhakar (2009) studied the problems (social, emotional and economic) of single
mothers on a sample of 50 single mothers, selected by snowball sampling technique. The
results of the study revealed that financial problem was the main stressor for majority of the
single mothers. The emotional life of the single mother was also affected by their single
status. Majority of the single mother reported that they felt lonely, helpless, hopeless, lack of
identity and lack of confidence. In social sphere majority of single mothers tried to avoid
attending social gatherings and had changed their dressing style due to depression they had
develop poor food and eating habits. Majority of the single mothers found it hard to maintain
discipline among the children due to absence of male members.
Johnson and Susan (1984) found that single women are better adjusted socially and
psychologically as compared to married ones. A few studies indicate that pull for remaining
single is a desire to perceive psychological and social autonomy (Adams, 1976, Edwards and
Hoover, 1974; Stein, 1976).

Studies reveal that the journey and causes underpinning their identity as single women is
different depending on whether they were widowed, separated, divorced or remained single
by choice or circumstance, and those who belong to variously oppressed and dispossessed
groups.

In some of these studies, the condition of separated/deserted women has been described as
even worse than that of a widow (Agarwal, 2007; Soppecom, 2008; Harshand others,
2010).Kulkarni and Bhat (2010) conducted two studies at different times in two different parts
of Maharashtra on women, who had been forced out of the marital home or chose to walk out
due to violence, showing that women‟s expectations from marriage and tolerance for violence
have changed. The men and their families, on the other hand, continued to behave in
regressive and patriarchal ways while expecting the women to conform to traditional norms of
the “good wife and mother”. It was also clear that given their increasing numbers and plight,
the State Government could no longer afford to neglect these women. At the same time,
women‟s rights organizations and civil society should help them to build a culture of
resistance.

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III) conducted studies by NIPCCD (2011) in 29
states during 2005 –06 and released a report in (2007) that revealed that 37 per cent married
women in the country were victims of physical or sexual abuse by their husbands. Over 40
per centof Indian women experienced domestic violence at some point in their married lives,
and nearly 55 per cent thought that spousal abuse was warranted in several circumstances.
The survey showed that countrywide more women faced violence in rural areas (40.2per cent)
as compared to those in urban areas (30.4 per cent). The survey found that one in every three
women, who had been married at any point in their lives, said they had been pushed, slapped,
shaken or otherwise attacked by their husbands at least once. Slapping was the most common
act of physical violence by husbands. The survey also found that one in six wives had been
emotionally abused by their husbands.
Sanjay (2012) conducted a study on abandoned women and her problems that revealed that
family violence was increasing day by day. There are social laws regarding family violence,
which can curtail it. There are many reasons for family violence, one of the reasons being
monetary benefits on the part of men and women. Women were the victims of the family
violence in most of the cases. Since the wife is harassed in the family, she leaves her husband
and lives as a separate life as an abandoned wife.

RESEARCH GAP
It is evident from the literature that the number of single women is increasing in many
countries, especially among urban based highly educated and economically independent
women (Ibrahim and Hassan, 2009; Tanturri and Mencarini, 2008; Koropeckyj- Cox and Call,
2007; Berg-Cross, et al., 2004; Isiugo-Abanihe, 2000).

Although much research has been dedicated to the experiences and interpersonal relationships
held by never-married women, little if no research has focused on how technology,
specifically social networks, have influenced the lives of these women.There are some studies
which have highlighted the social aspect of the problem like gender occupational segregation,
patriarchy, biasness and prejudices. However, there are no studies available in India which
had identified an impact of financial factors on women in singlehood in Mumbai.

Instead of looking at a problem from different angles separately, a better approach will be to
study the phenomenon from four angles i.e. personal, work, organisation and financial
simultaneously. This will lead us to analyze and understand its comprehensive impact on
single women in Mumbai.

Very limited studies have used the exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor
analysis to identify the factors associated with single women. It is clear from the overview of
literature given above that a serious gap exists in current state of research as regards the social
origins, historical background, life styles, problems, adaptive mechanisms and future
aspirations of single women in our country. Previous research has explored the interpersonal
relationships held by single women; however, previous findings are dated and inapplicable to
present day women. Subsequent studies have investigated the deviant labels placed on never-
married women, but even more current research is deficient in explaining current labeling
trends. A humble attempt would be made to systematically fill up this gap.

Taking all these into consideration, this study explores the question of why women who wish
to marry remain single into their thirties and above.
 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To determine the impact of socio-economic status on singlehood women.

2. To identify the major causes of singleness of women in Mumbai City in respect to financial
aspect.
3. To explore the factors costing single women’s mental health root cause for lifelong health
hazards and its contribution on their financial condition in Mumbai City.
4. To discover the problems and challenges faced as well as strategies opted to overcome these
problems by single women with special reference to their work life or career in Mumbai City.
5. To identify the factors preventing women employees from aspiring for higher postion or
designations at work by single women in Mumbai city.
6. To identify the sources of income and their preferred investment avenues
7. To identify and suggest models for investment which help them secure their future financially.
8. To identify the contribution of single women to the economy in Mumbai city.
HYPOTHESIS
Hypotheses to be tested
Statement Hypothesis1

Null Hypothesis:
H0: Socio-economic profile or characteristics does not define its level of empowerment.
Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Socio-economic profile or characteristics define its level of empowerment.
Statement Hypothesis2

Null Hypothesis:

H0: Socio-economic status does not play a vital role in women’s upbringing of children and
providing them with higher education

Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Socio-economic status plays a vital role in women’s upbringing of children and providing
them with higher education

Statement Hypothesis3

Null Hypothesis:

H0: Women in Mumbai do not opt for remaining single on their own
Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Women in Mumbai opt for remaining single on their own

Statement Hypothesis4

Null Hypothesis:

H0: Single Women in Mumbai do not have financial security

Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Single Women in Mumbai city are financially secure.

Statement Hypothesis5

Null Hypothesis:

H0: Mental stress level has no effect on the physical health of single women which in
turn leaves their financial position unaffected

Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Mental stress level has effect on the physical health of single women and this affects their
financial position adversly.
Statement Hypothesis6

Null Hypothesis:

H0: Education level of women has no relevance to women being lifelong single in societies.

Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Education level of women has a comparatively high probability of being lifelong single in
societies.
Statement Hypothesis7

Null Hypothesis:

H0: Singlehood has no effect on the success in work life of women

Alternative Hypothesis:
H1: Singlehood has significant effect on the success in work life of women

Statement Hypothesis8
 H0: Single Women do not plan their investments for a financially secured future

H1: Single Women plan their investments for a financially secured future.

Scope of the study

The effect of women’s marriage experience on the marital decisions and opportunity of never
married women underscores the importance of enhancing gender equality. All forms of social
and cultural norms that undermine and restrict women in the home should be eliminated,
because what happens to one woman affects other women. Domestic violence should to be
treated more as a public issue and a form of social violence than a private affair. The violence
against women (Prevention, Protection and Prohibition Act 2002) should be domesticated in
all States and effectively implemented.

Singlehood is a shift away from the traditional culture of early and universal marriage.
Therefore, understanding the causes of singlehood and its impact on the financial
sustainability of women in Mumbai provides a necessary indication of what is happening to
marriage in general and its financial effects on the women folks. This study therefore, adds to
the much needed substantive knowledge of nuptiality patterns which is relevant for more
effective population policies. A healthy Marriage plays a vital role in determining the
financial sustainability and secured financial future of both the partners and their dependents.
The study recommends replication of this study in other parts and among men.
GENERAL METHODOLOGY:
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The following concepts are to be clearly highlighted in the proposed research theme—

1) Single women—‘She’ is to be identified as a woman who has reached the age of thirty
and is still unmarried. The decision to keep the cut off point as 30 or so is based on the
following reasons. On an average, unmarried working women have generally completed
education and professional training upto the age of 20-23 yrs. and that too in an unbroken
stream which is rare. Getting employed takes still more time and the waiting period for
marriage also delays the stage at which women get set in a pattern of singleness and start
perceiving themselves as single women with a special status and problems of its own. Hence,
the cut off point for minimum age for unmarried women at 30 years appears to be most
rational and suitable for the present study.
2) Life styles—This concept refers to the study of the living patterns and adaptability to
various modes of life. Binlove (1982) points out that life style is a sociological category and is
all the more important as it reflects socio-typical aspects of human behaviour and forms the
 social activity. It exhibits the way of life of an individual with reference to his work,
confidence in future, identification of the self and its relation to collectivity and the realization
of creative possibilities. This concept will include the ways in which she brings together all
aspects of her life like her daily routine, time devoted to specific activities, her value
orientations and behavioural patterns in situations of work, home and society.
3) Problems—Problems would reflect those situations which the single women perceive
to be causing stress and strain in their life and threatening their physical and mental well-
being, provided that they think they can identify the causes responsible for such situation and
believe that they can overcome them.
4) Challenges—Challenges would reflect the critical situations which will be overthrown
on them by the family and society which they have to face with extreme boldness and
overcome them successfully.
Research Methodology
Primary data

Secondary Data

Secondary data will be collected from books, Journals, Newspapers, IBA Bulletins, Websites,
Research Papers, Ph.D and M.phil thesis and records of NGOs

Techniques of sampling

Selection of the Sample

A sample of 300 single/ unmarried women, aged 30 and above, will be surveyed. The
researcher is in the process of identifying those suburbs in which female to male residents are
high. This age range is selected to be in line with other international studies on single/
unmarried women, which all focus on women in their reproductive age category. The
researcher will adopt purposive sampling or snow ball sampling to select wards and
households in each block and women in each household.

Significance of the study

Single women accept livelihood of being single either voluntarily or involuntarily as an
alternative life style, society still devalues and considers it personal failure to the extreme
level. This attitude of society creates stresses and problems of adjustment for single women. It
is necessary to explore the behavioural patterns and the existing trend which indicate the
marital state as the only aim for women. The study will throw the light on the problems and
challenges. The study will investigate the particular sub-groups of working single women in
urban areas and suggest the ways and means to make the lives of single women socially
useful. The proposed study also has a national significance as it may offer measures as to how
the potentials of these free, independent and competent women may be utilized for the cause
of nation building. It may also help in the fulfilment of the directive principle of state policy
laid down in our constitution that every Indian would be provided full opportunities for the
development of his inner potentialities

Selection of the Sample

Study/ Research/ Ethics

The survey will take into consideration the protection of all respondents and researchers.
Respondents will be advised that their participation is voluntary and assured of complete
anonymity. Furthermore, they will be advised that they did not have to answer any question
they felt uncomfortable about.

Questionnaire

This study employed qualitative techniques to collect data on factors that predispose women
to singlehood. The main instrument for the survey is an in-depth structured questionnaire
consisting of both closed and open-ended questions. The comprehensive and structured
questionnaire will be designed in line with the objective of the study. The questionnaire will
focus on the various aspects of problems and challenges being faced by women and various
cost components related to medical, police and legal services. In order to test the validity of
the questionnaire, a pilot survey will be conducted prior to the actual survey. This will help in
providing valuable feedback following which the questionnaire can further be improved. The
questionnaire will be filled in by conducting face-to-face interviews with the respondents.

Research Methodology:

The information obtained through the questionnaires will be summarized and structured to get
a meaningful picture of the responses by using R or Tableau (statistical software).

Limitations of the study

The study will be covering all single women from the central suburbs of Mulund to Dadar in
Mumbai city. And the findings of the study will be applicable to metropolitan cities like
Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai only.

Expected outcome of the study

 The significance of the study may be judged by the contribution which the proposed study is
likely to make. On the level of theory, the proposed study is expected to contribute—

1) It would fill the gap which exists in financial aspects of remaining women single and
how they meet their and the needs of their dependents’ needs.
2) It would add to the knowledge of the how the mental health of such women affect
their physical health, thereby affecting their finances and also their productivity adversely.
3) It would discuss the problems and challenges faced by single women in their worklife/
career/ to aspire for higher designations present scenario.
4) It would throw light on their existing source of income and their investment patterns.

On the plane of methodology, it is expected to develop a research strategy which would help
in investigating the particular sub-groups of working single women in urban areas.
As regards its practical value, the proposed study is likely to suggest the ways and means to
make the lives of single women financially sustainable for them and their dependents with a
secured financial future and sustainable investment goals. In case of enforced singles like
widows and divorcees, it is all the more important. It aims at finding out the institutional
support to be provided to single women. In a nut shell, the proposed research would suggest
guidelines for making the singleness of women an financially secure for them as well as their
dependents in society and providing them with specific suggestions on investment models
which will help them to be financially independent, or even, empowered.

The proposed study also has a national significance as it may offer measures as to how the
potentials of these free, independent and competent women may be utilized for the cause of
nation building. It may also help in the fulfilment of the directive principle of state policy laid
down in our constitution that every Indian would be provided full opportunities for the
development of his inner potentialities irrespective of his or her sex, caste, colour or creed and
nobody shall be allowed to be discriminated on the basis of birth, body or status.

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