Here’s about India’s Workforce Gender Gap: Why Women’s Participation Remains Critically Low
India, the world’s most rapidly growing large economy, is still struggling with a critical challenge – a persistently low rate of female labour force participation. Despite gains in education, access to technology, and legal protections, the percentage of Indian women working for pay is among the lowest in the world. It’s not just a social issue – it’s economic.
The Current Reality
India performs worse when it comes to a female labor force participation rate, and the latest statistics indicate that the percentage is less than 25%. In more agricultural economies, rural regions do have a higher percentage, but still lower compared to other developing nations with similar levels of development, let alone lower GDPs. So, why are Indian women not joining or remaining in the workforce?
Key Barriers to Entry
1. Societal and cultural norms:
The conventional gender roles are dominant in a majority of Indian households today, where women are expected to prefer home-based work and child-rearing compared to career work.
2. Safety Issues:
Lack of transport, weak workplace security, and harassment are major discouragements for women, especially in cities. Safety risks in the majority of instances outweigh women’s perceived benefit from working outside the home.
3. Unpaid Care Work:
Indian women have so much more time devoted to unpaid care work – from household chores like cleaning and cooking to childcare and care of older relatives – and little time or energy for paid labour.
4. Lack of Flexible Work Arrangements:
Prescribed schedules of work and absence of cover for childcare and maternity restrict women’s capacity to balance professional and family life, especially in the absence of inexpensive childcare.
5. Gender Discrimination and Ineffective Participation of Women in Recruitment and Promotion Process
Underpaid and non-promoted female employee turn into a major cause of the low participation of women at workplaces. Such prejudices are elaborated below.
Economic Cost
The underemployment of India’s female workers is an economic loss. Studies show that closing the labour force participation gap between the genders has the potential to add trillions of rupees to India’s GDP. Not only is it a moral imperative to allow women to work – it’s an economic one.
Steps Towards Change
Policy Interventions: The government efforts promoting skill development, safety, and maternity leave should be scaled up and implemented effectively.
Workplace Reforms: Firms must implement gender-sensitive recruitment procedures, mentorship schemes, and flexible work policies.
Social Awareness Campaigns: Changing attitudes towards gender roles is critical to achieving sustainable change.
Investment in Infrastructure: Access to safe public transport, digital skills, and rural job schemes can radically enhance women’s access to work.
Conclusion: India’s low female labour-force participation reflects more fundamental social inequalities that need to be tackled with a sense of urgency. With policies to eliminate systemic barriers and redefine cultural narratives, India can unleash the potential of half its citizens. The path to a truly inclusive economy is to grant every woman who wants to work the freedom, support, and opportunity to work.
Add comment