Female Migrant Workers in Bhutan’s Liquor Industry: From Economic to Gendered Vulnerabilities

Abstract

This article highlights the social and gendered vulnerabilities faced by female migrant workers in Bhutan’s liquor industry. The majority of employees in the liquor industry are single women from rural areas. Their employment offers them financial independence but simultaneously exposes them to societial stigma, gender-based discrimination, and often also precarious living conditions. This article emphasizes the complex interplay between economic opportunities and gendered vulnerabilities, illustrating how migration and factory work serve as both a livelihood and a site of social negotiation for these women.