EXPLORING THE DIMENSIONS OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN VARIOUS SECTORS

Abstract

The notion of women's empowerment is widely endorsed across various sectors of society, yet its practical application remains inconsistent. This discrepancy becomes evident when examining the challenges faced by women in both public and private corporate sectors. In the context of India, women encounter difficulties in transcending traditional and orthodox societal views. The entrenched cultural norms and perspectives on women's roles contribute to a significantly lower representation of women in various fields compared to men. Moreover, women in these sectors often endure harassment, with their struggles being overlooked.

In professions such as IT, corporate training, teaching, air hostess roles, receptionists, marketing, and others, women face obstacles stemming from societal expectations, religious beliefs, and cultural biases. Unfortunately, blind faith in religious doctrines and practices has led to instances of harassment, as highlighted in prominent cases involving figures like Ram Rahim and Swami Nityanand. While these cases may temporarily alter societal perceptions, they often revert to the status quo over time. One can discern the persistence of gender inequality from the statistics, revealing that women constitute only approximately 11% of the upper house's total strength. This underscores the need for a more comprehensive and sustained effort to address and rectify the challenges hindering women's representation and empowerment in various sectors.