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