By Tanvi Negi
“I don’t want to marry. I want to build my career…be independent…help my family… secure my brother’s life…and achieve my goals. Only then can I think of marriage,” Sharddha (name changed) reflected. The young woman Shraddha we met in 2022 at Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Kalaburagi was pursuing a course in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant. Sharddha’s “wants” is the chorus of many women fighting for their aspirations.
Unlike their mothers and grandmothers who had restricted access to education, healthcare, and opportunities to pursue their ambitions, today’s women have expanded aspirations. However, societal and workplace structures have yet to fully evolve to support them.
According to the All India Council for Technical Education, the number of female enrollees in undergraduate courses increased from 30.5% (2017-18) to 33.7% (2020-23). Today, 43% of STEM graduates in India are women, which is higher than several countries in the Global North.
The results of the periodic labor force survey 2022-23 released in October 2023 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, revealed that the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women in the usual status aged 15 years and above increased from 23.3% (2017-18) to 37% (2022-23) while rural areas witnessed a significant increase in female labor force participation rate from 24.6% (2017-18) to 41.5% (2022-2023). The survey’s findings highlight India’s steadily improving record on women’s participation in its labor force in recent years, especially 2022-23 compared with the years until 2017-18.
And yet, India has one of the world’s lowest female labor force participation rates. The latest data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey released in October 2023 by the Government of India indicates that while the FLPR increased by 4% to 37% in 2023, it still lags behind the global average of 47%. Researchers have tried to explain why this lag persists despite advancements in access to education, family planning, and health care.
However, to sustain our progress, we need to find solutions for overcoming some of the challenges that continue to persist and hold women back from participating in the workforce and economic activity. One of the most commonly cited reasons is that the burden of care in Indian society remains with women. Women are more likely to be the primary caregivers to both young children and the elderly at home. A research published by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (based on Time use survey data from NSSO) indicates that women who are involved in the labor force spend at least twice the amount of time on cooking, household maintenance, and caregiving.
Another reason is that young women often have limited agency when it comes to making critical life decisions. Many times they find that the power to make decisions on their behalf shifts from their parents/ guardians to husbands and in-laws. On the other hand, a research study found that the presence of ‘virtuous cycles’ in families where older women (mothers or mother-in-laws) had worked, increased the probability of women being in paid work by 18-21% points.
Women of reproductive age often find themselves having to choose between their family and work. While there are legislative laws to ensure provisions like on-site creches, maternity leaves, regulation of working hours, etc. to support working mothers, insufficient penalties for non-compliance coupled with inadequate incentives for compliance means that many of these laws fail to benefit women especially those employed in informal sectors and setups.
The lack of reliable public transport and clean public toilets directly impacts women’s mobility and participation in public spaces. Sectors that have a high concentration of female workforce such as garment manufacturing also report cases of workplace sexual harassment and exploitation. Due to concerns around safety young women are often denied permission to pursue employment outside their homes by concerned parents/ in-laws. In light of all these challenges, how can we help young women like Shraddha to unlock their potential?
Here are five possible ways to make it happen.
Firstly, introduce career counseling for girls at an early age to guide them about careers. Enable them with skills that give them the confidence to navigate and make informed decisions. Provide young women with relatable role models on careers who can aid the process of exploration and discovery.
ASER 2023 study indicates that girls lag behind boys when it comes to the ability to perform tasks that require the application of knowledge. Girls must be provided the opportunity and resources to bridge the gap between theory and application, especially concerning digital and financial literacy.
Measures to bridge gender gaps are essential to bring about long-term equitable change. The gender-based digital divide has led to adolescent girls and young women not being able to take advantage of the opportunities that the internet and technology provide for gaining skills, knowledge, and networks. Investments in technology infrastructure as a public good may help solve the issue of access.
Fourthly, starting conversations on gender equity in schools can help girls and boys build common ground to debate gender roles and help young boys grow into equal partners for young girls. Changing parental attitudes can play a critical role in supporting young women to pursue their aspirations and seek financial independence.
Lastly, initiatives like the one introduced by some state governments to provide free public transport to women have had a positive impact on women’s mobility. More research is needed to understand the long-term impact of these public policy initiatives not just in terms of participation in the workforce but also on women’s agency.
As India embarks on the journey of becoming the top three economies globally, increasing women’s participation in the labor market will play a significant role in that direction. It will remain central to India’s policy interventions to create a positive momentum towards increasing the number of women entering the workforce, which will have positive implications for the nation’s economic development and growth.
The author is Associate Director (Knowledge and Impact) at Quest Alliance and works in the education and skilling sector.
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