Economic contributions of women in traditional naga society

Abstract

This paper brings out a brief outline of women in Traditional Naga society, where agriculture plays a very important role. Apart from other economic activities, agriculture is focused more in this paper. It analyzes the work of women in agriculture and argues, women as a backbone of agriculture. The paper also compares the work of women in agriculture before and after the coming of Christianity. Agriculture being the main occupation of the Nagas, from the time of hunting- gathering and warfare period to the modern Naga society, women have always worked more than imagined. From traditional time, while men engaged themselves to hunting and warfare, women work in the field as well as managed all the household chores. Yet, men are termed as the 'bread winner', the question arises as to why not women be termed as the 'bread winner' or 'hard worker'? In household work or fieldwork a Naga woman is always ahead of her counterpart. The coming of Christianity has tremendously marked an epoch in the history of the Nagas and women in particular.