The poor women’s labour force participation is not only a function of low education and social status, but also, to a significant extent, of culture and social barrier. Examine.

Approach:

The poor women’s labour force participation is not only a function of low education and social status, but also, to a significant extent, of culture and social barrier. Examine.

In the Introduction, come out with the linkage between India’s development and Women labour force participation.

As India is aspiring for $5 trillion economy by 2022, the aspiration looks dull due to low women labour force participation.

In the body, come out the reasons for low women labour force participation.

• Underreported women labour force participation.
• Job loss due to mechanization
• Care economy and the burden of unpaid work
• Deep rooted patriarchy and gender bias
• Non-availability of white Collar jobs (Glass ceiling effect)
• Migration due to Marriage
• Religious barrier
• Long working hours and gender stereotypes
• Rising educational levels and household incomes

Add data, facts and examples wherever necessary.

1.3 billion Women were in work in 2018 as compared to 2 billion men – a less than 2% improvement in last 27 years. – ILO report

he FLFPR in India fell from 31.2% in 2011–12 to 23.3% in 2017–18. Further, the FLFPR for rural areas has declined by more than 11 percentage points in 2017–18.

What needs to be done?

Providing required Infrastructure, ensuring equal pay for equal work, quotas in educational institutions and jobs, ensuring maternity benefits, increase expenditures for ICDS, MGNREGA, Gender Budgeting

In the conclusion, emphasize on structural changes that needs to be done in order to increase Women labour force participation which will result in the holistic development of a country.