Empowering India’s Women: Gains in Education, Gaps in Employment
Empowering Indian Women.
India has seen significant progress in empowering women over the last decade, marked by positive changes in education, marriage, social engagement, and attitudes toward gender equality. However, while these shifts suggest growing empowerment, economic participation for women remains stagnant, creating a gap between social progress and economic opportunity. This essay, drawing on findings from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), explores these transformations and highlights how progress in social freedoms and educational achievements contrasts sharply with limited economic opportunities. Addressing this discrepancy is essential for fully harnessing the economic and social potential of Indian women, creating what economists call a “gender dividend.”
Educational Advancements: A Catalyst for Change
Education has been a powerful driver in empowering Indian women, providing them with the knowledge, confidence, and independence to aspire for greater roles in society. According to IHDS data, the number of young women completing higher secondary education rose from 27% in 2011-12 to over 50% in 2022-24, with college degree attainment also increasing from 12% to 26%. Notably, the gender gap in education has nearly disappeared, indicating that Indian families are valuing their daughters’ education just as much as their sons’.
As Kiran Saxena emphasises in ”Empowerment of Women: The Indian Context” (The Indian Journal of Political Science, 1994), pp. 391-400), education is “fundamental to women’s rights and necessary for their participation in societal progress”. This cultural shift toward valuing education for both genders has allowed more women to enter fields traditionally dominated by men, which can boost their economic and social contributions.
However, as noted by Stephan Klasen and Janneke Pieters in The World Bank Economic Review (2015, pp. 449-478), while educational access has surged, “the lack of growth in ‘appropriate’ employment sectors for educated women has contributed to low labour force participation despite increasing levels of education,” leaving many educated women without employment opportunities that match their skills.
Marriage Trends: A Move Toward Autonomy
Marriage, once an area where women had limited control, is also evolving. Delayed marriage has become more common, with the proportion of women married by their twenties dropping from 76% in 2011-12 to 66% in 2022-24. Delaying marriage gives young women more time to focus on education and personal development, which in turn strengthens their independence and sense of identity. Furthermore, the percentage of women having a say in selecting their spouses has increased from 42% to 52% in the same period.
This shift toward autonomy in marriage decisions reflects a growing acceptance of female agency within families. As Jugal Kishore Misra explains in ”Empowerment of Women in India” in The Indian, Journal of Political Science (2006, pp. 867-878), “The ability to make personal decisions—especially regarding marriage—is a critical part of empowerment, as it enables women to negotiate more balanced and respectful partnerships.” While some traditional norms still linger, these changes show the beginnings of greater freedom for young women in both their private and public lives.
Evolving Gender Attitudes: The Shift Toward Equality
Indian society’s views on gender roles have also improved over the past decade. For example, the preference for sons has decreased from 23% to 12%, which shows a growing acceptance of daughters as valuable family members. This change is essential for women’s rights advocates, as it reflects a shift in the belief that daughters have just as much to contribute as sons. Saxena describes this shift as “essential for dismantling the deep-rooted patriarchy that has historically marginalised women”.
Moreover, women’s independence in public spaces is on the rise. In 2011-12, only 42% of young women felt comfortable traveling alone by public transport; by 2022-24, this number rose to 54%. Mahbub Alam Prodip’s research on institutional constraints published in the journal World Affairs (2021, pp. 213-244) highlights that this increase in mobility is “foundational to women’s empowerment,” as it challenges traditional norms that restricted women’s freedom and kept them dependent on male family members.
Social Engagement and Community Involvement
Participation in community activities, particularly through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), has provided many women with a path toward economic and social empowerment. SHG participation among young women increased from 10% in 2011-12 to 18% in 2022-24, offering them collective support and opportunities to develop skills in finance and decision-making. SHGs not only support mutual aid but also help women gain confidence, which is crucial for managing finances and making independent decisions. Prodip notes that such groups “serve as a springboard for greater involvement in community and even political spheres”.
Moreover, political engagement, though still limited, has shown slight growth. As women increasingly attend local council meetings or gram sabha gatherings, they gain visibility in local governance. Saxena points out that the introduction of reserved seats for women in local councils has been a key step in encouraging political participation. However, traditional barriers, including the masculine model of politics, continue to limit women’s influence in these spaces.
Employment: The Unresolved Challenge
Despite remarkable advances in education and social freedoms, stagnation in employment opportunities for women is a major barrier to their full empowerment. The IHDS data indicate a decline in wage labour participation among women aged 20-29, from 18% in 2012 to 14% in 2022. Although increased college enrolment partly explains this decline, it does not account for the persistently low employment rates among women in their 30s. Many women have expressed interest in working, with 80% of married, unemployed women stating they would work if they found suitable jobs, and 72% reporting that their families would support such decisions.
The gap between women’s educational attainments and their employment options highlights a serious problem in the job market. Klasen and Pieters argue that “the lack of growth in ‘appropriate’ employment sectors for educated women” has contributed to low labour force participation despite rising levels of education. Without structural changes to create job opportunities that match women’s skills and aspirations, India risks wasting the potential of a highly educated female workforce.
The Four Pillars of Empowerment
Four key pillars of women’s empowerment are identified: personal efficacy, household decision-making power, social engagement, and economic independence. While progress has been made in the first three areas in India, economic independence—achieved through employment—remains a significant gap. As Misra emphasises, “without economic empowerment, gains in education and social freedoms remain insufficient for achieving full gender equality”.
Employment brings financial independence, greater authority in household decisions, and higher social status. These outcomes are crucial for negotiating equality within families and society. The current lack of employment opportunities prevents Indian women from experiencing the benefits of their education, which limits their empowerment and hinders India’s broader economic growth.
Challenges and Solutions
To close the gap in employment, India must address several challenges:
- Sectoral Job Creation: Promoting job growth in sectors that typically employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and certain types of manufacturing, could help match women’s qualifications to job opportunities.
- Safety and Transportation: Ensuring safe, reliable public transportation is essential for allowing women to travel for work without fear, broadening their employment options.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Jobs with flexible hours, remote options, and part-time roles would help women balance work with family responsibilities.
- Skills Training Programs: Offering targeted skills training could help women develop expertise that matches current job market needs.
- Anti-Discrimination Laws: Enforcing laws that prevent gender discrimination is necessary to ensure fair hiring practices and to encourage a more inclusive workforce.
- Support for Women Entrepreneurs: Programs that empower women to start their own businesses could lead to greater economic opportunities, especially in rural areas.
Conclusion
India has made notable progress in empowering women through advancements in education, marriage autonomy, and social freedoms. However, limited access to employment prevents women from fully realising the potential of their empowerment. Economic empowerment is considered vital for India’s progress, as it enables women to actively contribute to both household well-being and national development.
By creating jobs that match women’s educational qualifications and expanding opportunities for female employment, India can harness the full benefits of its highly educated workforce, achieving a true gender dividend. It is increasingly acknowledged that the moment has arrived to fully integrate women into India’s economic progress, enabling them to share in and contribute to the nation’s growing prosperity. With these efforts, India can unlock the full potential of its female population, foster gender equality, and strengthen its economic future.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
