Traditional gender norms link socially constructed traits to biological sex, defining men as providers and women as nurturers. In Uttarakhand’s villages, women face a “double burden” of farming and domestic duties as men migrate for work. This shift creates emotional challenges for families, leaving elderly parents experiencing loneliness and children lacking support. This silent strain on women’s mental health is driven by deep isolation caused by male out-migration, the normalization of violence, patriarchal control, and verwhelming added responsibilities. A comprehensive analytical framework is required to fully understand the multifaceted nature of women’s contributions to society. This paper adopts a comprehensive analytical framework to examine how diverse domestic,
agricultural, and community responsibilities contribute to the unequal distribution of emotional labour. It further analyzes the impact of traditional gender roles and the burden of emotional labour on women’s mental health, autonomy, and social standing in rural Uttarakhand. This paper employs a secondary data analysis approach, synthesizing findings from peer-reviewed studies, government reports,
and empirical research conducted in Uttarakhand between 2017 and 2025. Key sources include Pande et al. (2017), Mathias et al. (2016), and Dumka (2020). Women face increased anxiety and chronic fatigue due to the burdens of visible and invisible care work, compounded by gendered expectations that limit their education, employment, and decision-making autonomy. This emotional labour perpetuates gender inequality, harming psychological well-being and independence. The relationship between gender and mental health is primarily social rather than biological, leading to cycles of suffering and marginalization. To improve women’s mental health and autonomy, a fairer division of emotional labour and supportive policies are crucial. The paper advocates for gender-transformative mental health
interventions that address these structural and psychosocial factors.
Gender Norms, Emotional Labour, Women’s Mental Health, Autonomy, Uttarakhand, Social Determinants of Health, Migration, Silent Mental Health Crisis