Abstract:
This study focused to analysis the invisible economic contribution of house wives in rural
Sri Lanka. The rural community has undergone many changes due to women’s invisible
economic contribution for their families. On this basis, the objectives of this study were to
analysis invisible economic contribution of house wives in rural Sri Lanka and to examine
changing gender relations, female unemployment, their response to poverty conditions, socio economic and cultural hindrance, the way women manage their triple role, women’s economic
support and housewives’ satisfaction. The study found that, women are performing a significant
role in family affairs. The changing positions of women from reproductive to productive
activities have offered significant changes in rural areas. With regard to housewives, it is
possible to state that the housewives’ unemployment has brought significant disadvantages to
their families as well as rural community. It has reduced their eye on economic well-being of
the family. They have received lower status and power due to less economic strength. Different
type of limitations exhibit the way they have been neglected from rural economy. Despite these
limitations, those who are not economically active has received lower level of satisfaction. On
the other hand men still continue to receive household leadership and ownership of assets, but
women play an important role in rural development, whether they are employed or not.
