Women And Work In India: Tracking Trends, Analysis And Possibilities

Human civilisation has a patriarchal history, and this can be seen through the vivid gender disparities in our societies across the personal and professional fronts. Access to opportunities for advancement and growth is scarce for the marginalized sections and is often seen as a privilege. 

Beyond the meagerness of the availability of such avenues, the attitude of society towards such advancements for the marginalised perpetuates inequality in thought. However, India has evolved in recent years, and the workforce dynamics show optimistic trends.

While traditional norms and expectations have historically placed limitations on women's participation in the workforce, recent trends have made significant transformations. In fact, women account for nearly 52.8% of employability as compared to men, according to the India Skills Report 2023. 

Working Women: Forging A New Corporate Era 

The Indian economy has always been deprived of active participation by women in the mainstream workforce. Women are usually limited to domestic roles in the formal economy, despite continuing to labour endless unpaid hours on farms or in domestic duties. While the corporate arena has embraced modernisation and globalisation, gender-based biases and societal expectations continue to dampen women's opportunities, and their career choices remain a topic of contention. However, post-COVID-19 era, there has been a noticeable shift in the working culture, particularly with greater emphasis on remote work and flexible schedules. This unintended change in working patterns has provided an impetus to pave the way for a more inclusive work environment.

Today, times have changed, and barriers are increasingly being scrutinised. Greater support is being garnered for DEI causes within corporate offices, and an increasingly greater need is being felt for women to occupy leadership positions. More and more women are excelling in fields once considered male-dominated and breaking through ceilings once considered beyond reach.

The female workforce is witnessing a remarkable surge in the number of women joining various sectors, including consulting, automobiles, technology, and e-commerce. Women account for 13.76% of all entrepreneurs, or 8.05 million in India, as per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Women entrepreneurs are significantly rising, taking over male-dominated industries and embracing leadership roles like never before, overcoming gender bias, salary gap discrimination, unequal representation, and imposter syndrome. 

The Road Ahead: Trends And Analysis 

According to a recent survey, when it comes to seeking a new job, women are workplace consumers. They aren't just seeking a job that matches their skill set, but also one that fits their current situation. Women are prioritising jobs that align with their personal values and offer flexibility to balance their professional and personal responsibilities. To highlight the fact, 8 out of 10 working women in India have realised that they prefer to work with greater flexibility now than they did before the pandemic, according to the survey conducted by LinkedIn. They seek opportunities that provide a supportive and inclusive work environment, allowing them to thrive both personally and professionally.

Be it investment bankers, financial analysts, doctors, or entrepreneurial pioneers, Indian women are not only excelling but are also at the forefront of groundbreaking research.

From launching innovative startups to scaling existing businesses, they're proving their mettle as entrepreneurial pioneers. Thus, by breaking cultural norms, Indian women are becoming stand-up comedians, pilots, bartenders, tattoo artists, and even professional gamers. Therefore, they are defying cultural norms and pursuing careers that align with their passions. 

Here, let's delve into some of the analysis to promote fairness, invest in facilities for all, and support gender equality. 

Education as a Catalyst: As per the report published by the National Statistical Office (NSO), with the female literacy rate standing at approximately 70.3%, education and inclusive workplaces have become important to empower women in their careers. Furthermore, education promotes financial and social liberty, while supportive workplaces foster community and gender equality. Audits can help identify and address obstacles to women's advancement. 

Supportive Workplaces: Progressive workplaces are inclusive and supportive of a woman's career progress. They create a sense of belonging, community, and strength among female employees while simultaneously promoting gender equality. Thus, to create an inclusive workplace, conduct an audit to develop a roadmap. Furthermore, implement policies that encourage work-life balance, offer childcare benefits, build women's communities, improve maternity return programs, provide mentorship opportunities, and foster a culture of respect and equality.

Community building: Community building has immense benefits for supporting women at work. They can be tapped for mentorship, networking, support, and dialogue. Such communities open spaces where women can find not only direction and support but also help them build vital connections and expand their professional network. They also find mentors, which can be a powerful factor in their career advancement. Communities support women to overcome obstacles and attain their full potential in their careers by sharing their experiences and knowledge. 

Towards a Bright Future! 

With India ushering in its Amrit Kaal, women’s participation in the workforce is still one of the lowest in the world. This is changing rapidly and is likely to significantly change over the next decade. However, interventions beyond public policy need to support this drive. Societal perceptions, family structures, gender norms and roles, and workplaces and work cultures all play a role in this movement to enable women to have sound professional lives like their male colleagues and family members. 

We are definitely moving toward a bright future where women not only survive but thrive in their professional lives. The trend is here to stay.

Authored by Aparna V Dhas, Co-founder and CEO, Headsup Corporation.

Views expressed by the author are their own.

Suggested reading: Present Indian Labour Landscape: Tracking Gender Divide, Inequality