Parliament to workplace

Source– The post is based on the article “Parliament to workplace” published in “The Indian Express” on 29th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS2 – Social empowerment.

Relevance – Issues related to women empowerment

News– The recent landmark legislation mandating the reservation of a third of parliamentary and assembly seats for women is a game changer for attaining gender equality in political voices in the country.

Why is political and economic empowerment of women still a challenge for India?

Female representation in politics- India ranks among the countries with the lowest levels of female representation in politics worldwide. Women comprised a mere 10.5 percent of all Members of Parliament.

This figure is lower than that of regions like sub-Saharan Africa and neighbouring countries such as Pakistan.

Labour market-participation – The labour force participation rate of women is low. It is approximately 25 percent. This is in stark contrast to the global average, which is nearly 50 percent.

What are factors behind low labour participation of women?

1. The unequal distribution of household responsibilities places a disproportionately heavy workload on women.
2. social norms that prioritise marriage over women’s careers.
3. 3. Concerns about safety and a perceived high risk of sexual violence.
4. Lack of reliable and secure public transportation infrastructure that limits women’s physical mobility.
5. 5. Structural shifts away from agriculture and changes in agricultural technology have led to women leaving the farming sector. There are few viable opportunities available in non-farm sectors. So, these women often exit the labour market.

How enhanced representation of women in politics will impact women’s participation in the labour force in India?

Political reservation for women directly contributes to making political and administrative careers more viable for women in the long term. More women will enter the political arena.

Evidence from the reservation of positions for women sarpanches in Gram Panchayats suggests that female political decision-makers tend to prioritise and address issues that align with the preferences and concerns of the electorate. These issues are sanitation, education, and healthcare.

The improvement in essential public services has the potential to reduce the time spent by women on domestic work, such as water collection, firewood gathering, and childcare. This can enable them to pursue productive work opportunities.

Women leadership will focus on concerns related to public safety, law and order. It will advocate for policies that have a gender perspective into urban infrastructure and transportation planning. It has the potential to enhance women’s physical mobility and expand their access to employment opportunities.

There is limited empirical evidence available to suggest that increased presence of women in politics also impacts the demand for female labour in our economy.

It is possible that women in political leadership positions may be more inclined to advocate for legislation that enforces gender equality in wages and working conditions within the formal sector. They may prioritise policies aimed at broadening employment opportunities for women in the manufacturing sector.