• UGI USER
  • Feb 09, 2023
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Discuss the various opportunities and challenges posed by globalization on working women in India.

Approach:

  • Give a brief context of the impact of globalization on working women in India.
  • Mention various opportunities created by globalization on working women in India.
  • Also discuss the challenges posed by it.
  • Conclude accordingly.

Answer:

Globalisation has not only increased the economic opportunities but has also led to an increase in access to information, primarily through television and the internet. Globalisation has given women a new identity, financial independence, freedom of expression as well as a remarkable social status.

Opportunities provided by globalisation for working women in India:

  • Modern education and capacity building: Globalization has created immense opportunities forcing economies to recognize and utilize their resources efficiently. Resultantly, females that comprise about half of our population are increasingly acquiring higher education and engaging in a productive workforce.
  • Increased employment opportunities: Globalisation has opened the scope for employment in sectors, which have global bearing, especially in the service sector, for instance, data processing, banks, insurance companies, software development etc. This has created opportunities for women in diverse sectors.
  • Development of entrepreneurial attitude: Traditionally most women stayed at home taking care of domestic needs and children. Now with increased connectivity and exposure, we see a surge in enterprises led by women such as Nykaa.
  • Increase in social choices of women: The increased opportunities for paid work has increased women’s social choices as well, giving them self-confidence and enhancing their decision making ability.

While globalization has improved the socio-economic condition of women and has promoted equality between the sexes, there are still many challenges:

  • Double burden: Women do both household work (like cooking, baby care, etc.) as well as professional work. This dual responsibility makes it difficult to leave their mark in their places of work.
  • Sexual harassment at work place: Job opportunities have increased but safety at workplace and in public spaces remains an issue. The issue of women safety is of particular concern in new age industries that have opened as a result of globalization and involve working at odd hours.
  • Gender inequality: Gender differences in education, particularly scientific and technical education, have limited women’s access to new employment opportunities created in the globalized world.
  • Access to resources: Issues related to property rights of women and limited access to productive inputs also constrain their capacity to benefit from trade opportunities that have opened up.
  • Lower level jobs: Barring the IT sector, women are mainly employed in middle and lower managerial level jobs. Women’s participation in the higher managerial level in the private sector is still limited (glass ceiling effect).

Despite this, the advent of global communication networks and cross-cultural exchanges have led to change in the status of women albeit not to a very large extent. Globalization has indeed promoted ideas and norms of equality for women that have brought about awareness and acted as a catalyst in their struggle for equitable rights and opportunities.