Woman at Work

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  When I first read about the rise in women working in India, I thought, “Great! Finally, some progress.” The rate of working women Going from 23.3% in 2018 to 41.7% in 2023 sounds like a big difference. But the more I read the article, the more mixed feelings I started to get. Sure, more women are working, but is it really because things are getting better in India? Well as the articles, Not exactly.

Something that bothered me is how much of this increase seems to be tied to old-fashioned mindsets still hanging around. In a lot of the rural areas, it’s seen as embarrassing if women work because it implies that the men aren’t earning enough. That kind of thinking can cause more negative judgments to be made amongst "gender roles". Imagine wanting to work, not just for money but to feel independent, and being judged by your own family or neighbors. It makes me so sad and a little bit angry. Women shouldn’t have to prove anything to anyone just because they want to work. 

Then there’s the fact that a lot of women are doing self-employment or family farm work. It’s not like they’re stepping into high-paying jobs—they’re doing what they have to do to make ends meet. It feels less like progress and more like survival. And even with all this hard work, their earnings are still low. It’s frustrating because they’re putting in the effort, but they’re not getting the rewards they deserve.

 However, I can possibly seem some hope as the government is trying to support women with things like microfinance programs, helping them start small businesses. Which I personally feel may be a step in the right direction. More women are taking loans and starting something of their own, and I think that’s great, But progress is slow, and it’s hard to be patient when you know how much really needs to change to make a bigger and better difference in society.

 For me, this whole situation feels like a mix of good news and at the same time bad news. Yes, more women are working, but they’re not always doing it because they want to—they’re doing it because they have to. And they’re still facing outdated views and low pay. In a ways it’s like we’re moving forward, but with some heavy baggage that’s slowing everything down. 

I really want to feel excited about these rising numbers, but it’s hard when I know the bigger picture. Women need more than just jobs—they need respect, fair pay, and real opportunities. Until that happens, it’s hard to celebrate fully. But still, I hope this is the start of something bigger for India and the rest of the world too. There is clearly a really long way to go, but at least we’re on the path of creating change and inspiring a bit of hope.


Below I listed a map to show how much of India is made up of their rural population and the link to the article. https://www.economist.com/asia/2024/11/21/the-mystery-of-indias-female-labour-force-participation-rate





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