Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Why India Needs More Women Leading the Charge

This International Women's Day is being celebrated with the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress"; hence, it's vital to acknowledge the cracks in India's glass ceiling. While progress towards gender equality is undeniable, recent reports paint a complex picture, highlighting significant hurdles.

The World Bank's?Women, Business and the Law 2024 Report?reveals a land of contrasts. India's legal framework for women's rights has inched forward, scoring 74.4%, but it still lags behind the global average of 75.4%. More concerning is the chasm between these legal reforms and their real-world impact.?

Issues like childcare access and safety from violence remain major roadblocks for Indian women. The report finds that only 78 economies, fewer than half globally, provide financial or tax support for parents with young children.?

Additionally, a mere 62 economies have quality standards governing childcare services, leaving many women hesitant to rejoin the workforce after childbirth. The report further emphasizes that women have barely a third (36%) of the necessary legal protections against domestic violence, sexual harassment, child marriage, and femicide.

The?India Justice Report (IJR)?throws another layer onto this complex tapestry. Despite quotas, women's representation within the justice system itself is shockingly low.?

According to the 2022 IJR, only around 35% of subordinate judges are women, a number that plummets to a mere 13% in high courts. In the esteemed Supreme Court, a beacon of justice for the nation, there are only three women judges as of 2024.

This lack of diversity weakens the entire system, hindering its ability to deliver fair and sensitive justice for all. Studies have shown that gender-diverse institutions lead to better decision-making and a more nuanced understanding of societal issues.

The Result? A Persistent Struggle for Indian Women:

• Unequal Playing Field:?Legal frameworks exist, but their translation into practical benefits needs to be more active. The World Bank report highlights that India scores poorly in areas like pay transparency and parental rights, hindering women's economic mobility.
• Economic Hurdles:?Obstacles like childcare and workplace discrimination restrict women's economic participation and potential. A 2023 McKinsey report estimates India's GDP could grow by $770 billion by 2025 if it achieves full gender parity.
• An Uncertain Future:?Lower pay and inadequate pensions leave women financially vulnerable later in life. The World Bank report finds that women globally earn just 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. This pay gap translates into fewer pension benefits and significant financial insecurity for women in their retirement years.
• Justice Out of Reach:?The lack of female voices within the justice system creates a barrier to fair and sensitive treatment. A 2022 study by the National Law University found that women are more likely to report feeling unheard and inadequately represented in male-dominated courtrooms.
• The Broken Ladder:?Exceptional women may rise to leadership positions, but their success doesn't reflect a systemic shift. The glass ceiling remains firmly in place. There has never been a woman Chief Justice of India, and only 16 women have served as Chief Justices of high courts in over seven decades.

Building a More Equitable Future requires a multi-pronged approach:

• Bridging the Implementation Gap:?Legal reforms must be coupled with robust measures to ensure their actual application.
• Investing in Support Systems:?Affordable childcare and flexible work arrangements are crucial to unlock women's full potential in the workforce.
• Closing the Pay Gap:?Equitable pay and pensions are essential for empowering women economically and securing their future.
• Diversifying the Justice System And Leading by Example:?Promoting women to leadership positions will create role models and inspire future generations to shatter the glass ceiling.

The truth is that a man, no matter how mediocre, weak or unworthy, moves up the ladder of position and power because of his gender. But a woman must jump through hoops of perception, opinion and judgement to prove exceptional qualities before she can lay claim to a place in the higher echelons. From Justice Ruma Pal to Kiran Bedi to Meeran Borwankar, those who made it to the top were simply too talented to be held down and only got what was their natural due.?

Celebrating women's achievements is vital, but actual progress demands acknowledging the challenges. By addressing these issues, India can build a more inclusive future where women are not just participants but leaders, driving positive change across all aspects of society. This International Women's Day, let's commit to dismantling the glass ceiling, brick by brick.

Sources:

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rbi-and-the-net-zero-transition-a-roadmap-for-green-india-9201992/

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UItvVo0-8OY

3. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/d891abb1-ca9c-42cd-989f-32d3885189a2/content