Topic: Social empowerment
3. The ability for women to participate in the labour force is the outcome of various economic and social factors that interact in a complex fashion. Examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint
Why the question:
Though output more than doubled and the number of working-age women grew by a quarter over the last two decades, the number of women in jobs declined by 10 million. Global indices and gender empowerment measures also paint a dismal picture. The 2021 Global Gender Gap Index revealed that India ranks 140th of 156 countries, compared to its 98th position in 2006.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about economic and social causes for declining female labour force participation rate (FLFPR).
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic regarding declining female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) in India despite high growth.
Body:
In the first part, mention the economic causes behind declining female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) – educational enrolment of young women, lack of employment opportunities, effect of household income on participation etc.
Next, mention the social causes behind declining female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) – educational attainment, fertility rates and the age of marriage, Social norms, Violence etc.
Suggest steps to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
