Some stereotypical thinking still believes that women are just for the household work not for the office. But the question is: who gives them the right to think that patriarchal? Eleanor Roosevelt said, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. So, who adds the gender between the rights? And there have been numerous like Roosevelt who question stereotypical thinking deeply embedded in India’s society.
History of Women at Work
In ancient times, women were believed to do domestic work, limiting their opportunities for economic independence. These social norms, patriarchal traditions, and restrictive gender roles emphasise their responsibilities within the household. This stereotype culture limited access to education, economic opportunities, and decision-making power for women.
The participation of women in agricultural labour, cottage industries and the informal sector had been the case in the pre-independence era. During that era, women were engaged predominantly in activities such as farming, handicrafts, and domestic work. They were undervalued, underpaid, and lacked formal recognition.
Some significant changes were seen in the 20th century, after the advancement of industrialisation and urbanisation. Some emerging industries including textiles, manufacturing and services raised demand for labour that created new employment opportunities for both women & men.
After Independence, the Government of India recognised the importance of women’s participation in the nation’s development. It introduced some policies and took initiatives to address gender disparities and promote the rights of women in various spheres, including the workplace. The establishment of the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 1985 marked a significant change in gender equality and women’s empowerment. Over the years, women have participated in different sectors, including education, healthcare, information technology, banking, media, and more. The growth of different industries and the rise of the knowledge-based economy have further opened doors for women to excel professionally.
However, despite the progress made, women are still facing challenges and stereotypical thinking. Women are still facing several problems in their workplace due to patriarchal thinking. Let’s have a look!
Challenges: Navigating the Complex Terrain
At the workplace, women face various problems that they need to tackle daily. While the severity of the problems varies, the most common challenges are-
Gender Pay Gap
There is no industry in India where women get paid equally to men for doing the same work. Individual experiences can differ, but on average, this remains the scenario. According to the Global Gender Gap Report of 2010, “India has the lowest gender parity among the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). In the past, the salary inequality between men and women was a global problem.
As per the Indian survey, there is a 25.4% pay difference between men and women. This means the women’s median hourly wage is 25.4 percent lower than men’s median hourly wage. Reasons behind the women’s wage gap could be a preference for male employees over their female counterparts. Some prefer men for superior roles over women, and women also stay behind by taking career pauses due to family duties and other socio-cultural issues.
Sexual Harassment for Women
Many women face sexual harassment in their homes, on the road, in their educational institutions, and even at work. Even after several complaints, many women still find them not being adequately addressed by their employers. Maybe they are not well informed about the laws or have only partially implemented them, and those who do set up internal panels have members who are poorly trained.
As per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013, all commercial or public organisations must have an internal complaints commission (ICC).
Gender-Based Discrimination
As per the report of recruiting agency TeamLease Services, half of the employees in India Inc. experienced some form of discrimination. Whether it’s in benefits, hours of leave, earnings, opportunities, or promotions, there is gender segregation in the workplace. Pregnant women and women with young children are also facing discrimination throughout the hiring process and when competing for job prospects, according to the TeamLease survey.
Breaking Stereotypes and Rising Against the Odds
Throughout history, women have faced challenges and gender biases, in their households and workplace. However, their participation is increasing due to the advancement in education and the gradually changing thought process of society. There have been noticeable examples of trailblazing women who are challenging patriarchal thinking.
Here are Some Women Leaders
There are several women entrepreneurs in India such as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (self-made Indian female billionaire) and Vandana Luthra (Founder of VLCC), who become an inspiration to hundreds of women, Ekta Kapoor (The Proud Owner of Balaji Telefilms), and many more. With their advanced journey, they inspire people. The success stories of women entrepreneurs debunk myths and give hope to others that nothing is impossible with determination. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s Periodic Labour Force Survey Report 2022-23 highlighted that the female labour participation rate has galloped to 37% in 2023, indicating the rise of women in India’s employment landscape albeit with challenges.
Educational Initiatives
Some of the educational initiatives ignite hope in many girls and women such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2000-2001) and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (2015). These schemes focus on improving girls’ access to education, addressing gender bias, and ensuring inclusive schooling. All these have led girls to grab exciting job opportunities, translating to the rising participation rate of women in India’s workforce system as shown above.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
As per this initiative, the government ensures free access to education for children aged 6-14 years. The scheme benefits 19.2 crore children in 11 lakh habitations across India. The plan seeks to open new schools in habitations deprived of schooling facilities.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
This is not a cash-benefit plan by the Government of India. It’s about questioning the deeply embedded patriarchal mindset of Indian society. With the government promoting the plan aggressively, the mindset of people has started to change towards girl education. Many have started embracing the same while criticising the discrimination women have to go through in places, including the workplace.
Wrapping Up
Despite women challenging the status quo and increasing their share in India’s workplace, problems still exist, both in urban and rural locations across the country. Still, there are countless families that do not allow their daughters and daughters-in-law to work outside their homes. If India is serious about becoming a developed economy, women will have to work in startups and other businesses as they still constitute nearly half the country’s population.
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