Stitching Futures: Women Weavers' Vital Role and Challenges in Assam's Handloom Industry

The handloom sector in Assam is a crucial part of the state's cultural legacy and economic framework, significantly driven by women weavers who account for a substantial portion of its workforce, both part-time and full-time. Despite their critical role, these women face multifarious socio-economic and political challenges that threaten their livelihoods and the sector's sustainability. This study probes women's participation in Assam's handloom industry, focusing on challenges such as low wages, raw material shortages, competition from mechanized textiles, and gender-based inequities, including exclusion from decision-making processes and limited access to policy benefits. Utilizing secondary data from journals, Books, and government reports, the research employs a qualitative methodology to analyze the socio-economic and political barriers impacting women weavers. Key findings reveal that systemic gender disparities aggravate economic vulnerabilities, with inadequate policy support further marginalizing women in the sector. Findings highlight how systemic gender disparities augment economic vulnerabilities, with women often excluded from critical industry networks and resource access. The study accentuates the need for gender-responsive strategies to address these challenges, advocating for equitable resource distribution and opportunities to enhance women's economic empowerment and ensure sustainable livelihoods for women weavers in 2025 and beyond.