Published Paper Details:

Women fishmongers constitute an indispensable yet highly vulnerable segment of the informal coastal economy in urban India. Operating primarily within competitive, perishable retail structures, these women face elongated working hours, unpredictable income streams, and strenuous physical conditions. Consequently, managing a healthy equilibrium between professional demands and domestic obligations poses a critical structural challenge. This study presents an empirical investigation into the socio-economic determinants, structural challenges, and familial realities shaping the work-life balance of women fishmongers across major fish markets in Mangalore city. Utilizing a structured sampling design, primary data was collected from active retail fish vendors through questionnaires and field interviews, supplemented by secondary literature reviews. The empirical results reveal that severe infrastructural constraints, minimal social security measures, and rigid patriarchal expectations significantly exacerbate work-life conflict, directly affecting their physical well-being and domestic stability. Conversely, family-driven support structures and localized community networks offer vital resilience mechanisms. The study concludes with actionable, targeted structural and policy recommendations aimed at building safer market environments, establishing microfinance security nets, and deploying formal welfare architectures to improve the socio-economic status of these working women.