Why aren’t India’s Women working?

by confuzzled dude Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:21 pm

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Usually, economic growth in lower-middle-income countries creates more jobs for women. But as India’s economy grew at an average of 7 percent between 2004 and 2011, its female labor force participation fell by seven percentage points, to 24 percent from 31 percent. Despite rapidly increasing educational attainment for girls and declining fertility, the International Labor Organization in 2013 ranked India 11th from the bottom in the world in female labor-force participation.

Research shows why this matters: Working, and the control of assets it allows, lowers rates of domestic violence and increases women’s decision-making in the household. And an economy where all the most able citizens can enter the labor force is more efficient and grows faster.

For India’s government to maintain the country’s progress into the ranks of middle-income countries, it needs to understand why female labor force participation is falling, and develop an effective policy response.

Data shows a complex and puzzling picture: Women are becoming more educated but, simultaneously, the positive labor market effects typically associated with higher education are declining.

It’s not that women don’t want to work. Our analysis of data from India’s latest labor survey shows that over a third of women engaged primarily in housework say they would like a job, with that number rising to close to half among the most educated women in rural India.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/opinion/why-arent-indias-women-working.html?_r=0

by pravalika nanda Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:34 pm

I wouldn't work if I was living in India. First, I don't want to get raped on the bus or in the car in case the company provides me with one. Two, I don't want to pee in the backyard of the company next to other animals and in case they have bathrooms for women I don't want to be using their water; I prefer huggies wet wipes. Three, it's better for the company to not hire cuz all the men would be flirting with me, the boss would also be very distracted by my pheromones. Work would never get done. Better for me to sit at home, go to the spa and the gym, be a good wife and mom and let India chug along.

by seven Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:14 pm

i blame ekta kapoor. that's why women are not working. men cook and clean and raise kids and earn money.

they should do a correlative study on how many new serials started between 2004 and 2011 and number of women deciding not to work to get to the bottom of this issue.

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