- Make no mistake, Indian society continues to remain patriarchal, misogynistic, and male chauvinistic despite transforming into one of the major economies in the world on the back of modernity-defined overall developments. It’s a misnomer in the prevailing situation that should be addressed by all concerned. Of course, due credit should accrue to the successive Union Governments over the years ensuring consistent priority is accorded to women empowerment, including unbiased treatment, gender parity/equality, and providing a level-playing field. Society’s outlook towards women has undergone definite alterations. However, it is also crystal clear that women continue to play second fiddle on every critical professional parameter out there. Why so?
PC: NDTV
- In simple words, women’s empowerment as envisaged by society hasn’t yet materialized or gained traction simply because of the dual roles expected from them. Women are expected to shoulder household chores, including mundane work like cooking/cleaning/sweeping/procreation/raising progenies, that completely consume their time, leaving little room for pursuing professional growth even though well qualified, if not more than their counterparts, but definitely at par with them. Married women find it extremely challenging to pursue both professional and domestic responsibilities, where balancing between the two demands immense sacrifice, diligence, and a strong sense of contribution/commitment towards making both ends meet a desirable outcome.
PC: StudyIQ
- Little wonder that many women opt out of pursuing professional commitments over domestic responsibilities gaining priority. For better comprehension, look at how India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above hovers around 32.8% to 35.3%, showing steady improvement in recent years, but not enough to be at par with males. This growth is predominantly driven by rural women engaging in household enterprises and agriculture, though challenges like the double burden of unpaid care work and wage gaps persist. Further, the participation rate is significantly higher in rural areas (over 36% to 40%) compared to urban areas (around 24% to 25%). Also, much of the recent surge in rural female participation is concentrated in unpaid family labour or own-account work (like subsistence agriculture) rather than formal salaried jobs.
PC: ThePrint
- Moreover, women in India spend a disproportionate amount of time on unpaid domestic work and caregiving, limiting their availability for formal or full-time employment. Statistically, female LFPR experiences a sharp decline after marriage and childbearing, particularly in urban areas due to a lack of flexible work structures. Notably, concerns over safe public transport and the double burden of domestic duties restrict many women from accessing employment centers. This is where caring, understanding, and equally contributing husbands would come in handy. Sharing responsibilities equitably would automatically ensure more participation from women in every economic sphere available out there. Society’s mindset has to undergo drastic changes, you see.
