WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT AND JOB INSECURITY AMONG WOMEN IN INDIA'S GIG ECONOMY: A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY

The rapid expansion of the gig economy in India has transformed the nature of work, particularly for women seeking flexible empolyment opportunites. While gig work promise autonomy and flexible schedules, it is often characterized by job insecurity, irregular income, and lack of social protection. For women, these challenges are compounded by persistent gender norms that assign primary responsibility for domestic and caregiving work to them. This study examines the experiences of work-family conflict and empolyment insecurity among women engaged in India’s gig economy using secondary data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Time Use Survey (2019), NITI Aayog Reports (2022), and International Labour Organization (ILO) Publications. The study adopts a sociological lens to understand how structural inequalities and gendered expectations shape women’s participation in precarious labour markets. Findings suggest that while gig work offers flexibility, it often reinforces gendered precarity and intensifies work-family pressures. The paper concludes with policy suggestions aimed at improving social protection and promoting gender-sensitive labour reforms. Keywords: Gig Economy, Women Workers,Gender Precarity,Work-Family Conflict,Job Insecurity,Labour, Empolyemnt Insecurity