Solar threads and social knots: Gender and energy transitions in the weaving community of Varanasi, India

India's renewable energy transition presents an opportunity for transformative social change, especially in advancing gender equality and inclusion. This paper examines the Sustainable Energy in Micro-enterprises for Income & Livelihood Enhancement (SMILE) program, led by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which introduced low-carbon energy solutions into micro-enterprises, focusing on the silk weaving cluster in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Predominantly composed of Momin Ansari Muslims, the community faces entrenched gender norms that render women's contributions to household and business activities largely invisible and undervalued. The introduction of solar-powered looms and mechanized handloom processes offered a pathway to reshaping labour dynamics and enhancing women's economic participation.

Drawing on immersive qualitative fieldwork, the study reveals that although the program aimed to empower women through ownership, training, and financial access, its impact was constrained by socio-cultural boundaries, particularly the divide between public and private spheres governed by faith-based customs. Internalized gender ideals and the ethics of care further shaped women's reluctance to pursue entrepreneurial roles, reinforcing traditional labour divisions and limiting autonomy.

The study argues that energy access must be reframed not merely as a tool for empowerment, but as a process shaped by, and capable of reshaping, broader socio-economic inequalities. It calls for norm-sensitive strategies that embed equity into energy planning, including long-term community engagement, culturally attuned policies, and institutional support. While not seeking to generalize, the study offers insights that warrant longitudinal and comparative research across marginalized communities, contributing to the growing discourse on gendered energy transitions in the Global South.