From Margins to the Mainstream: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

August has been a stark reminder of the challenges women continue to face in India. While stories of resilience and progress, such as the National Award-winning film "Aattam," the Justice Hema Committee report, and the box-office success of "Stree 2" – India's highest-grossing female-led film – offer hope, the recent brutal murder of a medical student and the public shaming of a renowned wrestler underscore the deep-rooted sexism that persists in society. As we strive to break the glass ceiling and ensure equality for all, it is imperative to address these issues head-on and create a safer, more inclusive environment for women.

Despite progress in certain areas, India's Global Gender Gap Index ranking of 127 out of 146 in 2023 underscores the persistent challenges women face in the country. The alarming statistic of over 4 lakh reported crimes against women in 2021, according to the NCRB, further highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address gender-based violence and discrimination.

Women frequently take on roles traditionally performed by men, often working night shifts or overtime without additional compensation. Nobel prize winner economist Claudia Goldin's research highlights that "All women work, but not all of them get paid." While the service sector offers more opportunities for women to enter the workforce, the transition to factory-based work during industrialization presented challenges for women, who often struggled to leave their homes to pursue employment. Furthermore, women's career decisions are frequently influenced by their mothers' experiences, leading to choices that do not necessarily prioritize long, uninterrupted, and fulfilling careers. Also, the feminization of poverty, characterized by the growing disparity in living standards between men and women, particularly evident at the end of the 20th century, is not solely attributed to income inequality but also limitations in women's capabilities and gender biases prevalent in both society and governance.

The root cause of these epistemic realities lies in the lack of entitlements, or individual rights, cultural norms, and the rule of law, that women experience in society. Lack of entitlements often intersects with other social categories, such as class, caste, and disability. From birth, women are often denied equal access to resources like playtime, food, education, family income, and assets, as they are burdened with excessive labor and responsibilities.

With a female labor force participation rate of only 37%, women in India are marginalized and exploited in both the formal and informal economies. According to the PLFS 2021-22, women are disproportionately represented in agriculture (60%), followed by services (30%) and manufacturing (10%). This concentration in low-paying and often precarious sectors highlights the feminization of poverty.

Findings from various reports, such as the recently released Hema Committee report, reveal a disturbing pattern of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault in the Malayalam film industry. At the workplace, women are subjected to a range of abuses, including sexual demands made for entry into cinema, torture for expressing dissent, and a lack of basic facilities like toilets and charging rooms on sets. The prevalence of male domination, gross indiscipline, and vulgar comments exacerbates the hostile work environment. Additionally, women face financial exploitation, online harassment, and a lack of legal recourse.

Despite advancements in industrialization, urbanization, and women's occupational mobility, the gender gap persists. Women's empowerment remains largely symbolic, existing primarily in laws and policies. The recent physical abuse of women in a Malayalam film industry caravan and the rape and murder of a medical student in a government college highlight the deep-rooted gender-based violence that continues to plague Indian society.

Change must begin now, starting with individuals like ourselves. Breaking gender stereotypes, such as referring to girls as "bae" or whistling at them, and boycotting songs that objectify women as "tandoori murgi" are essential steps towards progress. However, sociologist W.F. Ogburn's concept of "cultural lag" is relevant here. While material culture, such as laws and institutions, has evolved, non-material culture, including values, beliefs, and practices, is changing at a much slower pace. Traditional practices like forced "purdah" and forced "ghoongat," as well as the commodification and objectification of women, must be challenged for our civilization to advance.

Powerful men often skillfully use traditions and symbols to create false consciousness among women and maintain the existing status quo. One subtle example is the portrayal of women as "Stree Shakti," possessing infinite capacity for suffering. This ideology justifies the exploitation of women, such as forcing them to work long hours and overtime. Such patriarchal practices separate women from spheres of power, wealth, and influence, hindering their progress in higher-paying jobs and promotions due to pervasive "glass ceilings." These symbols, particularly religious ones, are used to maintain different levels of consciousness even among working women, including tribals, Dalits, middle-class individuals, backward castes, and those from rural and agricultural backgrounds.

Therefore, this form of patriarchy is neither purely structural, reducing women to passive victims, nor purely agentic, implying that women willingly collude with their patriarchal oppressors. Instead, it is a complex interplay of both structural and agentic factors. Women have actively raised their voices through feminist movements, such as wrestlers protesting against political leaders and ASHA and Anganwadi workers demanding permanent jobs, to challenge patriarchal structures and break the glass ceiling.

The increasing presence of women in leadership roles within the service sector, such as Jaya Verma Sinha, the first woman head of the Railway Board in 166 years, serves as an inspiration for other women. While radical feminists advocate for rejecting marriage entirely, mainstream efforts focus on achieving gender equality through initiatives like the Women's Reservation Bill, which proposes 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha. To reduce economic inequalities between men and women, it is crucial to implement policies such as universalizing equal pay for equal work, enacting stricter laws against discriminatory practices like triple talaq, domestic violence, and marital rape, and promoting gender-sensitive policymaking and budgeting. Additionally, Ann Oakley's recommendation of providing salaries for women's housework highlights the need to recognize and value women's unpaid labor. By addressing these issues, including specific legal protections like the Cine Workers & Cinema Theatre Workers (Regulation) Act 1981, the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1987, which imposes a two-year sentence for the indecent representation of women in various forms, and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, such as Section 509, we can create a more equitable and just society.

To address the pervasive gender-based issues in the Indian industries, service sector, and agriculture, comprehensive structural changes are essential. In the industry,  enacting new laws and constitutional provisions, establishing a specialized tribunal, redefining workplace boundaries, forming internal complaint cells, providing adequate maternity and childcare leave, making reasonable accommodations for women with disabilities, promoting gender-sensitive content, and implementing mandatory gender awareness training. In agriculture, solutions include implementing land reform policies, providing targeted training and extension services to women farmers, improving access to credit and financial resources, enhancing rural infrastructure and market linkages, promoting gender-sensitive agricultural technologies, and addressing sexual harassment and violence in rural areas. By implementing these measures, we can empower women, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to sustainable and equitable societal development.

Patriarchy cannot remain a historical constant. While women may have access to opportunities, these opportunities hold little value if women do not feel safe, have control over their bodies, and are appreciated and respected. True progress for women requires a shift from opportunities to tangible social change. As Sylvia Walby suggests, patriarchy is gradually transitioning from the private to the public sphere. The day India's Constitution recognizes women as equal citizens, no longer categorizing them as a "weaker section," will mark a significant step towards breaking the glass ceiling and women's mainstream integration.

References

1. Hema committee report

2. Vishaka Guidelines

3. NCRB Crime in India report 2022

4. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023

5. Theorising Patriarchy - Sylvia Walby, 1989

6. Global Gender Gap report 2023