Colonial Possession and Gendered Labor: An Analysis of Women’s Role in the Bombay Cotton Textile Mills in the Late Nineteenth Century2

Abstract

This paper critically examines the conditions of women workers in the textile mills of Bombay during the late nineteenth century. The analysis is conducted through the lens of 'possession' by the colonial State and its policies of labor regulation. The concept of 'possession' is explored at two levels. First, it is argued that women's vulnerability in the colonial narrative served as the foundation for the arbitrary ‘protection’ policies devised by colonial authorities in the form of factory legislation. Second, it is highlighted that factory legislation established colonial control over women's gendered roles, categorizing them as 'unskilled' labor. The introduction of the Indian Factory Act of 1891 further restricted women's mobility within the factory space and regulated their working patterns, including working hours and days, ultimately leading to a higher unemployment rate among women workers. Furthermore, the Act justified irregular and underpaid wages for women. This paper highlights that the factory legislation, intended to protect women from their vulnerable position made them more vulnerable resulting in their unemployment. This examination of the gendered nature of the Bombay mills aims to trace the global postcolonial history of wage gaps and gender distinctions at work back to their colonial origins. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of how colonial policies have had a lasting impact on labor practices and gender relations in postcolonial societies.