New Year - New Perspectives for Women in Workplace

India has been ranked 108th in World Economic Forum (WEF) gender gap index and also ranked 142nd out of 149 countries in the economic opportunity and participation subindex in 2018. 

As an Indian, what can you do to better this ? 

Well, what we need is not reservation for women in workplace but embracing a better support system. This new year, let us rethink our approaches towards women in workplace and thereby enable better statistics in the coming year. 

Firstly, women needs to change their perspectives about career. Most of the girls and young women end up choosing a career not out of their interest, but out of convenience or out of pressure from parents or peer. These wrong career choices end up uncomfortable for them later and many of them call it quits than trying to shift to a new career.  It is high time that girls are given proper career guidance and helped well to understand their capabilities . They also need to enhance their employability skills and strive towards continuous learning. 

Secondly, family has to provide the necessary support to women who aspire to work. Unfortunately , we still live in a patriarchal society where women are expected to handle the major role of home management. This prevents them to take active roles in career. There are still many parents who spend considerable amount of their life savings on marriage of their daughter but forget to provide her the right career direction. 

Thirdly, our society has to provide her with safe and a conducive ecosystem for her to work or startup. We also need to promote and glorify women leaders in business. 

All the above is easier said than done. It requires consistent efforts from individuals, organisations , the government and the society in general to enable this change. One of the key sustainable development goals of the 2030 is women's economic empowerment and it is high time India's half a billion population is rightly tapped to contribute to our economy. 

Let 2019 be an year for change , for empowerment and for the women ! 

CeeVee