Meena is a housewife. Besides taking care of household chores, she works in the cloth shop which is owned and operated by her husband. Can she be considered as a worker? Why?
Yes, Meena can be considered as a worker. She works in the cloth shop owned and operated by her husband, which is an economic activity.
Although she is a housewife and takes care of household chores, her work in the cloth shop contributes to the business. The context explains that women who work on family farms or in household enterprises without being paid are still contributing to production. Economists argue that such women should be called workers. Since Meena is actively engaged in work at the cloth shop, she qualifies as a worker, similar to self-employed persons or those working in family enterprises.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly establishes that women engaged in unpaid work in family enterprises (like family farms) should be recognized as workers. Meena's situation is analogous - she works in her husband's cloth shop, contributing to the business. The narrow definition of work that only recognizes paid employment leads to underestimation of women workers. The context supports the view that contribution to economic activity, whether paid or unpaid, qualifies someone as a worker.