The woman who worked in the fresh fish department of the market smiled at me

Woman working in the fresh fish department

After leaving the chicken section, I stepped into the neighboring building, which housed the fresh seafood market. Unlike the vegetable and meat sections, this area was filled with fish, shrimp, and other types of seafood. Considering Mumbai’s origins as a city built from seven islands reclaimed from the sea, it’s easy to see why seafood is such a staple here. The city’s coastal geography and the presence of fishing villages within its boundaries contribute to the abundant supply of seafood.

The seafood market was just as expansive and lively as the vegetable section. What stood out, however, was the workforce—most of the vendors here were women. While men dominated the vegetable and meat sections, their presence was nearly absent in the seafood area. It made me wonder if selling fish was traditionally seen as a women’s role in this region.

The division of labor in the market might be shaped by history, culture, and the nature of the work itself. Perhaps there’s a historical context where sorting and selling fish were considered "women's work." Or maybe it’s a reflection of fishing village traditions, where women often took charge of post-fishing tasks like cleaning and selling. Whatever the case, the women here worked with remarkable efficiency, their skilled hands giving life to the market’s vibrant energy.

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