Topic: Social empowerment
2. The country’s demographic dividend will be wasted if women largely stay out of our labour market. Examine the various impediments for women to participate in the labour force. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Live Mint , Insights on India
Why the question:
As the labour market currently stands, our female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) is one of the lowest in the world (by World Bank data). Further, it remains in declining mode, having fallen from 30.5% in 2000 to 21.1% in 2019, and 18.6% in 2020, by International Labour Organisation figures
Key Demand of the question:
To write about economic and social causes for declining female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) and its impact.
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.
Next, write about the impact of the above and suggest steps to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
