Women Construction Workers of Warangal K Murali Manohar V Shobha B Janardhan Rao THE position and status of women in any society is an index of the socioeconomic and cultural achievement of that society. There have been some changes in the position of women in India over the years but these changes are not uniform. The position and status of women also significantly varies from urban to rural, educated to uneducated, employed to unemployed, 'free' and privileged class to unprivileged class and the upper economic strata to lower economic strata of women. It also varies among the women doing different jobs. Though the position of women in India is not unique when compared to the women in other developing countries, it still presents certain distinct features due to traditions, economic backwardness and long history of exploitation of women in various facets of Indian social life. The reasons for the low status and position of women belonging to lower strata are one and the same in all the ages irrespective of the changes that have occurred in society.
