Gender Differences as per Child's Companion and Type of Activities Performed during Mother's Absence and Presence in Migrant Labour Families

The aim of present study was to explore the gender wise distribution of children of migrant families as per activities during mother's absence as well as presence. A self-structured interview schedule was interviewed on mothers of the selected 120 children of age range of 6-8 years. In the total sample, children were composed of two groups on the basis of their school attendance. One group of children, who were attending school (n=60) and another group was composed of those children who were not attending school (n=60). Each of these two groups further included equal number of boys and girls (30 boys and 30 girls). Data were statistically analyzed by using Z-test. The study showed that majority of the male children stayed with the siblings and spent time while playing whereas, majority of the females stayed with the friends/neighbourhood and in home and spent time either in playing or doing household chores during their mother's absence. Among both the groups, school going as well as non-school going, significantly larger percentage of boys were involved in playing and roaming as compared to girls. Significantly larger percentage of girls as compared to boys was taking care of siblings during their mother's absence. During mother's presence, boys as well as girls spent longer time in or around the home where as during mother's absence children spent more time away from home.