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The Plight of Women in India: The Paradox of Development and Difference
What is disturbing about the way we talk about women in India today is our tendency to over-celebrate their achievements and positions of power, be it women lawyers, scientists, toppers in examinations, or leaders in business. We applaud these milestones, yet we fail to acknowledge that many women still fear travelling alone, expressing their opinions at work, making independent life choices, or simply returning home late at night.
Illustration by The Geostrata
India may have progressed, but the real question is not whether women are part of the social fabric, they always have been. The more pertinent question is whether society has evolved enough to allow women to truly enjoy the fruits of their achievements.
BEYOND THE NUMBERS: WOMEN DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH
One of the most obvious examples of progress is an increase in women's involvement in the economy. Participation of women in the labour force among individuals aged 15 years and above increased from 23.3% in the year 2017–2018 to 41.7% in the year 2023–2024.
However, just having a job is not enough to ensure independence. A woman can have a job but still be expected to shoulder the burden of all household duties such as performing household chores and taking care of their children. According to the Time Use Survey 2024, the number of women aged between 15-59 performing unpaid care for their families was 41% and while the percentage of men was only 21.7% .
The women who took part in performing their caregiving duties spent nearly 140 minutes a day doing it while men spent only 74 minutes.
While the rise in female labour force participation from 23.3% to 41.7% signals economic progress, the Time Use Survey 2024 reveals that this inclusion has not translated into emancipation. With 41% of women performing caregiving duties compared to only 21.7% of men, and women spending nearly double the time - 140 minutes versus 74 minutes - on such tasks, women are effectively shouldering a double burden.
The consequence is a system of time poverty where employment adds to, rather than replaces, unpaid domestic labour, leading to burnout, limited upward mobility, lower bargaining power within households, and the perpetuation of the notion that a woman's primary role remains domestic even when she is an economic contributor.
FROM LEGAL RIGHTS TO ECONOMIC REALITIES
Legal rights for women in India reveal a paradox: while more women have entered the workforce, workplaces have failed to ensure a fair redistribution of responsibilities at home due to uneven implementation of protective frameworks like the POSH Act. Another critical concern is safety. Women continue to face disrespect and violence across spaces - at home, at work, in educational institutions, on the streets, and even on the internet.
India does have several laws to address these issues, including those dealing with domestic violence, sexual harassment, and sexual offences. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 further introduces stricter provisions to curb crimes against women such as rape and sexual harassment. The problem, however, is not the absence of laws but the lack of effective enforcement.
Moreover, legal rights mean little if women cannot access justice.
Many women remain unprotected because they fear approaching the police, cannot afford legal representation, are not believed by their own families, or are discouraged by prolonged judicial delays.
Technology has added another layer to this complexity. On one hand, social media has finally given women a platform to share their experiences of discrimination and to celebrate their achievements without depending on traditional institutions. On the other hand, the same platforms expose them to cyberbullying, threats, and harassment. Therefore, digital safety must be understood not merely as a technological issue, but as a question of gender justice.
BEYOND TOKENISM: FROM PRESENCE TO POWER
Representation must be understood in a broader context. A large portion of the Indian population is marked by women, but have not played a significant role in political decision making. According to PRS Legislative Research, grassroots constitutional amendments have already provided women with a one-third reservation in Panchayats and Municipalities. Nonetheless, representation involves more than simply taking a place or being given a position.
Women have to be allowed to take part in political decision-making and gain skills of leadership which would enable them to make decisions on how policies influence people in their region. Therefore, the biggest shift needed in India is changing the new understanding of gender equality. Gender equality should not be about teaching women how to be safer while leaving the rest of society to function the same way.
REDEFINING PROGRESS: FROM INCLUSION TO EMPOWERMENT
This responsibility must be shared by all stakeholders. For instance, the education system must sensitize young minds about consent, equality, mutual respect and responsible online behaviour from an early age. Companies must ensure not just a safe working environment, but also fair opportunities for growth and a credible mechanism to address discrimination. Similarly, law enforcement and judicial institutions need to adopt gender-sensitive approaches that make reporting and seeking justice less intimidating and more accessible for women.
Families too have a crucial role to play; sons must be taught to respect boundaries and daughters must be raised with confidence, not just caution. Ultimately, women must have absolute freedom to make their own choices regarding marriage, work, education, children and lifestyle, without being judged by societal norms.
Women in India are not waiting to be "empowered". They are already studying, working, leading, protesting, building businesses and actively shaping society. What needs to change is the environment around them. What matters more is not just how many women make it to the top, but whether every woman irrespective of her caste, religion, class, region or disability has the right to be safe and financially independent.
BY AASTHA
TEAM GEOSTRATA
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