ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors focus on the production and sale of textiles as an important craft and income source, discussing how the activities have changed over time and been affected first by socialist policies and later by economic liberalization. They provide case studies of textile businesses to highlight the way the varying political and economic climate impacted the development of small businesses. The authors utilize their four persistent questions to explore historical factors shaping women’s economic enterprises, changes in social institutions and culture that affected these patterns, global-local linkages, and individual agency in response to these influences and changes. They also focus on textiles because of their cultural and economic importance both in and beyond family and community. The authors provide additional information about the way the business owners involved family members and dealt with changing interpersonal relationships. Home production enabled a woman to combine her family responsibilities with income-earning activities by which she contributed to the family welfare.
