Work

Price of productivity – forced hysterectomies and gendered labour politics of sugarcane harvesters in Maharashtra

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines socio-economic inequalities through an investigation of “forced hysterectomies” among women migrant sugarcane labourers in Maharashtra, India. The study employs a combination of the Migration-Development Regime (Agarwala, R. 2022. The Migration-Development Regime: How Class Shapes Indian Emigration. Oxford University Press.) framework with social reproduction theory under the umbrella of the Labour Control Regime framework, analysing the impact of state-driven neoliberal development policies, which prioritise economic growth and profit maximisation, at increased risk of exposure faced by marginalised workers. The policies emphasise labour productivity at the expense of workers’ rights and health, particularly affecting women who undergo medical procedures to prevent so-called “disruptions” related to menstruation and pregnancy. We utilise findings from qualitative data analysis, encompassing policy analysis, interviews with affected women (N = 36), and ethnographic fieldnotes from labour camps. The hysterectomies illustrate a developmental pattern that commodifies women’s labour, prioritising economic efficiency over women’s reproductive health.

Source: Development in Practice

DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2026.2711271

Authors: Kritika Gosain, Ram Kishor Soren

Institutions: University of Tübingen, Assam University

Language: English

Topic: Gender, Health, and Social Inequality

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality, No poverty

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft