Problems faced by Women in the Workplace
Zainab Laila is a young teenager who aspires to write to inspire others. She started writing at the age of 10 and hasn’t stopped since.
Problems faced by Women in the Workplace.
Introduction
Over the years the jobs done outside the house to earn a living were done by men and it turned into a tradition, a custom in society and continues till today. Since women had to take care of household work, they were not given an education and not only were they not qualified for jobs, but the ‘family’ did not allow them to go out and work.
Times are changing, life and society have progressed along with the development of women and their rights. Now, they are not only well educated but also work outside the home. Although, it’s not been as easy for them as it has been for men.
The global report reveals that four in every ten women see the gender pay gap as a key issue, with women in seven nations listing this discrepancy as their major concern.
What problems do they have to face?
- At the start: –
A gender bias creates an obstacle at the recruitment stage itself. If a male and female are competing for a post and have the same qualifications, many-a-times it is seen that the job goes to the male the reason being the age old thinking and inbuilt conviction that women are capable of less work than men or are less efficient than men. This skewed approach governs the injustice of unequal salaries and wages for the same job.
- Problems at the workplace: –
Sexual harassment, molestation, eve teasing etc. are some very common problems women face at their workplace. What is the reason for this? Just because they are ‘women’ or just because they are ‘working’ and ‘independent’ and are challenging men in every field? Harassment in the workplace also emerges as one of the five top critical issues. Nearly one-third of women interviewed admit to having experienced harassment, although more than 60% do not report it. Indian women are the most likely to speak up (53%), a clear change of attitude since the fatal attack of a female student on a bus in Delhi in 2012.
- Ego of the male counterpart:
Men do support women to go out and work. But once she starts doing extremely well or earns a larger pay package than her male counterpart, the ‘ego’ comes in the way in some cases. These men find it difficult to accept the progress and achievement of women whether she is his wife or colleague.
- Managing work along with household activities: –
According to a survey conducted by ASSOCHAM on 1000 women professionals, around 80 percent of the households expect their daughters/daughters-in-law to prioritize household requirements over official work. Many women are physically, or emotionally abused at home but they do not let anybody know about it.
Conclusion
The status of women in India has undergone a considerable change since the past but there is a lot more development yet to take place. Though many Indian women are independent and aware of their rights, a majority of women are still unaware of the rights they are entitled to. The change has to be brought NOW as now is the best time to do so.
External Resource
Do check this article that has some great data on gender differences. It has a lot of achievable solutions so that women may be represented equally.