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150 Words10 Marks

Q.How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India?

UPSC Mains 2014•Society

Model Answer

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Syllabus Point

  • Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

Approach

  1. Introduction (Definition) (30-40 words): Define patriarchy and explain its influence on the social and economic roles of women.
  2. Body (Explanation) (80-90 words): Write about the impacts of patriarchy on middle-class working women.
  3. Conclusion (20 words): Summarize how patriarchy restricts the progress of middle-class working women despite economic and social advancements.

Introduction

Patriarchy is a structural social system where men hold primary power, dominating roles in political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. In India, this system deeply influences the lives of middle-class working women, shaping their roles, responsibilities, and professional opportunities. Despite advancements in education and urbanization, patriarchal norms continue to pose significant challenges in both personal and professional spheres.

Body

graph TD
    Patriarchy["Impact of Patriarchy"] -.-> DoubleBurden["Double Burden of Work"]
    Patriarchy -.-> WorkplaceDiscrimination["Workplace Discrimination"]
    Patriarchy -.-> SocietalJudgement["Societal Judgement"]
    Patriarchy -.-> RestrictedMobility["Restricted Mobility & Safety Concerns"]
    Patriarchy -.-> LimitedDecision["Limited Decision-Making Power"]
    style Patriarchy fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Impacts of Patriarchy on Middle-Class Working Women:

  • Double Burden of Work:
    • Working women are often expected to balance professional responsibilities with domestic chores, as patriarchal norms assign household duties to women.
    • Example: A study by Oxfam India (2021) showed that Indian women spend 3 times more hours on unpaid domestic work compared to men, even when employed full-time.
  • Limited Career Growth Opportunities:
    • Women often face glass ceilings in workplaces due to biases against their ability to handle leadership roles. Maternity breaks and societal expectations of prioritizing family over career also hinder their professional growth.
    • Example: Only 14% of senior management positions in India are held by women (Grant Thornton, 2023).
  • Gender Wage Gap:
    • Women are paid less than their male counterparts for the same work, reflecting the devaluation of their labor in a patriarchal society.
    • Example: According to the Monster Salary Index (2022), women in India earn 19% less than men for similar work.
  • Societal Expectations and Stereotyping:
    • Middle-class working women are often judged for neglecting family responsibilities or for being overly ambitious, which can lead to mental health issues and feelings of guilt.
    • Example: The stigma around women working late hours is a common societal bias in urban areas.
  • Workplace Harassment and Safety Concerns:
    • Patriarchy fosters unsafe environments where women face harassment and are often discouraged from pursuing certain professions perceived as male-dominated.
    • Example: A FICCI-EY study (2020) reported that 36% of Indian women have faced harassment in workplaces, but many hesitate to report it due to fear of stigma.
  • Preference for "Safe" Professions:
    • Families often encourage women to pursue professions like teaching or administration, which are considered more "family-friendly," limiting their aspirations.
    • Example: Many middle-class women are discouraged from pursuing careers in sectors like law enforcement or technology due to long hours or perceived unsuitability.
  • Lack of Support Systems:
    • Patriarchal norms discourage shared domestic responsibilities, leaving women with limited support for childcare and eldercare, which forces many to opt out of the workforce after marriage or childbirth.
    • Example: Only 25% of Indian women participate in the labor force, as per World Bank (2023), due to a lack of enabling environments.

Conclusion

Patriarchy significantly impacts middle-class working women in India by perpetuating gender roles, wage inequality, and workplace challenges. While education and urbanization have improved their opportunities, dismantling patriarchal norms through progressive policies, workplace reforms, and equal sharing of domestic responsibilities is essential for achieving gender equality.

Previous QuestionYou are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the issue of sending girls to schools. The elders of the village feel that many problems have come up because girls are being educated and they are stepping out of the safe environment of the household. They are the view that the girls should be quickly married off with minimum education. The girls are also competing for jobs after education, which have traditionally remained in boys’ exclusive domain, adding to unemployment amongst male population. The younger generation feels that in the present era, girls should have equal opportunities for education and employment, and other means of livelihood. The entire locality is divided between sexes in both generations. You come to know that in Panchayat or in other local bodies or even in busy crosswords, the issue is being acrimoniously debated. One day you are informed that an unpleasant incident has taken place. Some girls were molested, when they were en route to schools. The incident led to clashes between several groups and a law and order problem has arisen. The elder after heated discussion have taken a joint decision not to allow girls to go to school and to socially boycott all such families, which do not follow their dictate. A. What steps would you take to ensure girls’ safety without disrupting their education? B. How would you manage and mould patriarchal attitude of the village elders to ensure harmony in the inter-generational relations
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