The phrase “happily ever after” comes with a hefty price tag for women in South Asia, particularly in India. While marriage is often considered a milestone, it’s also the starting line for a marathon of gender disparity in the workforce.
According to a recent World Bank report, Indian women’s employment rates drop by 12 percentage points after marriage – a tumble from which they struggle to recover, even without kids. Men, on the other hand, enjoy a temporary employment boost of 13 percentage points, almost as if marriage came with a signing bonus for them. But let’s not cheer too soon for the men; this advantage fades after five years.
This “marriage penalty” is a stubborn beast, sticking around long after the wedding cake is gone. The report notes that this employment dip among women can last up to five years post-marriage in India and Maldives.
The culprit? Deep-rooted social norms expect women to focus on their new marital responsibilities, leaving little room for career ambitions. It’s a bit like being handed a “Congratulations, you’re married!” balloon that quietly deflates your career prospects.
Childcare Or Career?
As if the marriage penalty wasn’t enough, women also face a “child penalty” after starting families. Once kids enter the picture, women are often expected to exit the workforce, all thanks to caregiver duties.
The juggling act between home and career becomes too much, and the balls inevitably start dropping – usually on the career side. The same report highlights that caregiving responsibilities force many women to quit their jobs, sealing their fate as stay-at-home multitaskers.
Meanwhile, men aren’t expected to face the same dilemmas. There’s no “Dad penalty” that keeps men from powering through their careers. Society practically hands men a “dad badge” of honour while expecting women to simply do it all without breaking a sweat. It’s like being in a three-legged race where men get to run freely, and women have to carry the kids too.
Education: A Possible Silver Lining?
Despite these hurdles, there’s a glimmer of hope, and it comes in the form of education. The World Bank report reveals that women with more than secondary schooling or those who marry men with similar educational backgrounds are less likely to face the marriage penalty.
It seems that knowledge truly is power – and maybe even a career saver. Education is the buffer that can shield women from some of the harsher societal norms that pull them away from the workforce post-marriage.
But education alone isn’t a cure-all. The report stresses that both men and women need to up their academic game to even the playing field.
Sure, a college degree might help a woman avoid the marriage penalty, but it’s equally important for her partner to have similar qualifications. It’s like a relay race – if both aren’t running at the same pace, the baton is bound to get dropped.
Read More: India’s Twisted Economic Growth Story: No Jobs In Sight
Unlocking GDP With Gender Equality
Here’s where the conversation gets interesting – and, honestly, a bit infuriating. South Asia is losing out on a massive economic boost simply by keeping women out of the workforce. The report estimates that raising women’s participation to the same level as men could increase regional GDP by up to 51%.
That’s not pocket change; that’s a significant chunk of economic potential being left untapped. As Poonam Gupta, director general of NCAER, puts it, “We need to target institutional and societal causes creating the gender gaps in employment, while simultaneously making it easier, safer, remunerative, and professionally rewarding for women to join the workforce.”
In other words, unless we take on these challenges head-on, we’ll keep leaving a ton of money on the table – money that could boost not just the economy but also individual livelihoods.
Franziska Ohnsorge, the World Bank’s chief economist for South Asia, also echoed this sentiment by calling South Asia a “bright spot” in the global economy. But even bright spots can shine brighter, and it seems gender equality is the missing ingredient. If women were given the same opportunities and productivity levels as men, the economic boost would be game-changing for the region.
At the end of the day, the so-called “marriage penalty” is a reflection of deeply ingrained societal expectations that tether women to traditional roles, even as economies modernise.
If South Asia wants to unlock its full economic potential, it’s high time to rethink these outdated norms and policies. Encouraging education, supporting working mothers, and making the workforce more inclusive aren’t just feel-good initiatives; they’re essential steps toward a more prosperous future.
And hey, maybe it’s time to give women a break from juggling careers, marriage, and childcare all at once. Let’s face it – we all know who’s been doing the heavy lifting for far too long!
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Economic Times, Money Control, FirstPost
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: gender gap, women in workforce, marriage penalty, gender disparity, economic growth, female labor force, workforce equality, South Asia women, education for equality, working women, gender justice, employment equality, child penalty, women empowerment, inclusive growth, workforce challenges, women in India, GDP boost, societal change, policy reform
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