Impact of Socio-cultural Factors for Gender Pay Gap among Agricultural Labourers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This article is an outcome of a study conducted to understand the research problem of what are the socio-cultural factors that contribute for the gender pay gap in rural agricultural sector in Sri Lanka?. The gender pay gap refers to the percentage gap between the male average wages and female average wages. The gender pay disparity has economic, social, cultural and political consequences on individuals, business and governments. Primary data for this research was collected from the Liyangastota Grama Niladhari Division in Ambalantota Divisional Secretariat Division of Hambantota District in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire survey supported with 10 case studies, interviews and field observations were used as techniques of primary data collection from a sample of 56 respondents selected through simple random sampling method. Data analysis was done using both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. Some of the key factors identified as effects of socio-cultural factors for gender pay gap in the studied village include under-valuation of the female’s work by the society, occupational segregation, lack of work-skills of female labourers, effects of part-time and casual works on the female labourers, and labour market related factors such as level of competition in the labour market, new agro-technological inputs. The study found that family responsibilities, gender-based stereotypes and cultural norms; gender-based discrimination, marital status and male bias attitudes of the society largely contributed to determine the wage disparity among female and male labourers in the agricultural sector. Based on the key findings, the study concluded that, consistent gender pay gap has a negative impact on the standard of living of a labourer’s household.