BEYOND TRADITION: HOW MALAYALI TRIBAL WOMEN IN TAMIL NADU, ARE REDEFINING THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Abstract

Tribal communities in India have historically maintained relatively equitable gender roles, with women playing central parts in agriculture, household management, and cultural transmission. However, factors such as expanding education, industrialisation, government welfare schemes, and Self-Help Group formation have reshaped the roles and responsibilities of tribal women in recent decades. This study examines the nature and extent of social change among Malayali tribal women in Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, using a "Then and Now" comparative approach. An ex-post facto research design was adopted, and 120 respondents were purposively selected from Sitheri and Sitlingi villages, known for undergoing notable socio-economic and cultural transformation. Data were collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, and rank-based descriptive statistics. Findings reveal a shift from farming-dependent livelihoods to diversified income sources, increased participation in education and Self-Help Groups, greater institutional dependence in resource management, and a decline in physically demanding household tasks. Respondents expressed largely favourable attitudes toward social change, particularly valuing increased freedom of choice, though concerns emerged around declining health campaign participation and slower progress in higher education and leadership roles. Overall, the results indicate real and measurable transformation in the social, economic, and cultural lives of Malayali tribal women over time.