Gender Discrimination At Workplace Is Putting Women Off Marriage

Imagine, you finished your education, prepared day and night for interviews and finally grabbed a job in a reputed company and at your desired post. You are getting paid enough to live a luxurious life. But would you be willing to give all this up when you get married or pregnant? Seems difficult right? But women are forced to make this choice.

A recent report reveals that women who are single and childless are earning more than single men without kids. According to the report, single and childless women earned $65000 on average in 2019, while single men without kids earned $57000. Moreover, the report revealed that the earnings of single mothers was $7000 on average in the same year. 43 % of women in the US quit jobs after marriage.

Although the research is based out of America, the conclusion applies to every woman and man across the world.  The data shows that women who are single earn more than women, who are married or have kids.  This clearly shows the gender bias that lurks in workplaces.

Workplaces avoid hiring women because of their future plans of marriage or motherhood. According to the employers, if a woman employee gets married, there are chances that she might quit the job. And the reason they assume is that the in-laws and husbands usually do not allow their daughter in laws (DIL) to work. Moreover, women themselves quit because it becomes difficult for them to handle the house and office together. Furthermore, some employers assume that if the husband is earning, the woman will no more require her job.

Numbers Reflect Gender Discrimination At Workplace

For India, according to the National Family Healthcare Survey, only 32% of women in India are married. Moreover, when women employees get pregnant, maternity leaves and parenting duties further puts them off the promotion lists.  According to another report, 50 % of women leave their job during pregnancy and only 27% return.

All these numbers from America and India points towards discrimination. The cause and effect comes later. The vital concern- Is it right to force women to choose between career and family? Is it right to consider them invalid for jobs just because they have a family to take care of? Don’t have families? Shouldn’t they equally be a part of the caretaking of the family as women? Familial duties, marital roles, and workplace attitude toward may be the source of it but sad part of this bias is that women are now scared of marriage and motherhood.

Women are not ready to pay the huge cost of losing their career in order to have a partner or child in life. It is sad also because men are allowed to have both things without any opposition or difficulties. They are able to gain promotions while receiving love from the family. They were neither subjected to such dilemma, nor asked to share marital duties.

Is it fair? What if a woman wants a family too? Should she give up her desires just because society cannot approve of women being independent? Many might shame the women who choose careers over marriage or pregnancy. Because it is just not acceptable for society to have women, who are ambitious but not gharelu. But are men shamed if they choose career over family? No. Because it is considered to be a man’s birthright to earn and focus on finances.

So dear society, stop pressurising women to choose between family and career. Let women decide for herself, and take her freedom to flourish in career and simultaneously have happy families. If they willingly choose to not get married, then it is understandable. Scaring women away from marriage is not right. A woman has the freedom to earn and have a family as much as men do. It is all about choices, and not about what is right and wrong. Let her make choices which are fearless.

The views expressed are the author's own. 

Suggested Reading: Men Are Now Opting For Paternity Leaves and We Can’t Stop Applauding Them!