Hyderabad: The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index places India at the 108th position, which is much lesser than China and Bangladesh who were ranked 100 and 47, respectively. The report stated that participation of women in the job market is less. Suparna Rao, a women rights activist, said, “Most female workers get paid very less compared to men. The disparity prevents women from working.”
The report noted that it will take 217 years to end the workplace gender divide. Shekar Sharma, an IT employee, said, “Most companies recruit from campuses these days and there is generally no bias there and companies also promote women’s safety. However, few female employees can be seen at senior positions.”
The report stated that 66 per cent of women's work in India is unpaid, compared with 12 per cent of men's work. Unpaid work measures the average minutes spent per day on routine housework, shopping, care for household members, care for non-household members, volunteering, travel-related to household activities and other unpaid activities. “The fact that 66 per cent of women’s work is unpaid shows the gender disparity. Most works taken up by women are babysitting and taking care of elderly persons which are paid on hourly basis in foreign countries,” said Suparna.
Even India’s entertainment sector has come into the limelight for paying male actors higher compared to female actors despite more women-centric films being produced these days. Anitha Suresh, a school teacher, says, “Women should demand the pay on par with men. It might not be accepted in the beginning. But that is the only way we can bring the change.”
India’s decline in position is due to gender gaps in political empowerment, healthy life expectancy and literacy. “With more than 50 years passed since the inauguration of the nation's first female prime minister, maintaining its global ranking will require India to make progress with a new generation of women political leadership,” the report said.
