Earthwatch-supported research in India shows that quality of life can be measured in ways that are beyond rupees

The growing trend toward "outsourcing" by the apparel industry has drawn attention to the regrettable and unsustainable conditions suffered by many apparel workers overseas. Research on textile artisans in Mumbai, India, by Earthwatch teams working with Drs. Marsha Dickson (Kansas State University) and Mary Littrell (Iowa State University) identifies business practices that can enhance the quality of life for these workers.

"Quality of life can be improved through work in many ways beyond wages," said Dickson, who with Littrell was co-principal investigator of Earthwatch's Textile Artisans of India project from 2001 to 2003. Their findings were reported in a chapter of the recent book, Advances in Quality-of-Life Theory and Research, published by Kluwer Academic Publishers.

"I think this is especially important because we in developed countries have focused intently on wages," continued Dickson. "We need to be open to the variety of ways that businesses can shape a workplace and the nature of work to have positive impacts on quality of life."

Dickson and Littrell based their research on interviews with 92 tailors and embroiderers in the Mumbai slums about their wages, household income, expenses, and quality of life. The artisans were all affiliated with MarketPlace, an alternative trading organization that exports ethnic apparel with the goal of enhancing artisan participation in the global market and improving the quality of life of those artisans.

The researchers began with informal group discussions with the artisans, all of whom are women, asking them to describe criteria that were important to them in defining quality of life. Artisans identified decision making in the home, recognition in the neighborhood, self-confidence, household and self-improvement, and social awareness as important in defining their quality of life.

"By combining these criteria, along with other variables from the research literature, the validity of our research findings are substantially strengthened over other researchers who often impose a set of measurement variables from the outside," said Dickson.

A Basic Minimum Needs Ratio was calculated, by dividing average household income by average expenses, to give a clear indication of the value of earnings in the local context and allow comparison to countries with other economic situations. The researchers found that 40 percent of artisan households were unable to cover their basic minimum needs, at an average cost of 3,484 rupees, with their monthly income.

Dickson and Littrell's research identifies certain key business practices that are associated with quality of life in India, such as MarketPlace's emphasis on enhancing self-worth and empowering women to address social issues. They found that satisfaction with life for these artisans had more to do with social and psychological aspects than material gains. These findings help suggest a model for businesses to follow to assure sustained and enhanced quality of life for artisans in developing countries.

"A lot of quality of life research focuses on the nuanced situations that increase quality of life for people in developed countries-people who essentially have the basics of life covered and for whom many opportunities exist," said Dickson. "But of course we know that the ‘haves' in the world are far outnumbered by the ‘have nots.' Vast numbers of people's lives might be improved if more researchers focused on how quality of life can be enhanced for the many people in the world who have so little."

A total of 23 Earthwatch volunteers carried out 184 interviews with artisans, supervisors, and managers, contributing substantially to this time-consuming research. Their participation was also a valuable point of cultural exchange: For nearly all of the artisans, this was the first time they had sat down and talked to a foreigner, let alone talk openly about their successes and daily challenges.

"The artisans shared with us how much they enjoyed talking with the volunteers, who were perceived as caring and interested in their lives," said Dickson. "In turn, volunteers have said that the opportunity to talk with women in their homes and workplaces in the Mumbai slums profoundly affected how they conceptualize the human spirit to survive and make better lives for children."

For more information, see "Measuring quality of life of apparel workers in Mumbai, India: Quantitative and qualitative data." Dickson, M. A., & Littrell, M. A. In Advances in quality-of-life theory and research (211-232). M. J. Sirgy, D. Rahtz, & A. C. Samli (Eds.) The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003.

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.