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While India is experiencing unprecedented levels of economic growth, its women continue to be marginalised with respect to economic participation. Contrast this with the country's performance in political empowerment for women, an area in which it has traditionally done well
India ranks in the bottom 10 of an international list on women’s participation in the economy compiled annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF). On economic parameters, the only six countries that fare worse are Iran, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, all of which are nowhere near the high-performing economy that India is. According to the WEF’s most recent Gender Gap Index, released on November 8, India places 114th out of 128 countries in achieving gender parity in the economic, political, educational and health spheres. In South Asia, only Nepal and Pakistan fare worse, occupying two of the bottom three slots. Countries that rank below India are Bahrain, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Iran, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Benin, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan, Chad and Yemen. Notably, there are two other countries from South Asia on this list. In terms of ‘economic participation and opportunity’, India has fared worse than last year -- at 122nd position it has slipped into the bottom 10 of the list. According to the report, India scores an overall 59.4% on gender equality; for economic participation and opportunity it scores a low 39.8%. The Economic Parity Index is based on four criteria -- labour force participation, wage equality for similar work, income, legislators and the number of senior officials and managers and professional and technical workers.
In terms of wage equality, India’s rank is much better, at 59th, with a 67% gender equality, while for professional and technical it is 97th (27%). It has been ranked below 100th position for the other three parameters.
According to the WEF, India has 36% female participation in the overall labour force, while for professional and technical workers the figure is 21%.
In terms of economic participation and opportunity, Mozambique has been named as the top country, with a gender equality of 79.7%, followed by the Philippines (78.9%), Ghana (78.1%), Tanzania (78%) and Moldova (77.8%).
On economic parameters, the only six countries faring worse than India are Iran (123), Bahrain (124), Oman (125), Pakistan (126), Saudi Arabia (127) and Yemen (128).
The major countries faring better than India on economic parameters include the US (14), the UK (32), Australia (12), South Africa (85) and France (61). Among the fast-developing countries, Brazil (62), Russia (16) and China (60) have all been ranked well above India. India fares much better in terms of political empowerment -- with 106 women in Parliament, 118 in ministerial positions, it ranks 21 in the Gender Gap Index’s political participation list. The country has had four years with a female head of state in the last 50 years.
India ranks fourth position, with a 43% gender equality, when compared in terms of a woman head of state. India ranked 98 out of 115 countries in the 2006 Gender Gap Index. The Gender Gap Index for 2007 was topped by Sweden, with a gender equality of 81.5%, followed by Norway, Finland, Iceland and New Zealand -- the WEF study found that the gender gap across economic, education, health and political spectra diminished most significantly in these countries. The study found Yemen, Chad and Pakistan among the most unequal countries with respect to gender, with the United States of America finishing 31st overall -- one place above Kazakhstan. The 2007 study aimed to establish a yardstick to measure improvement in women’s positions in society. It found most progress was made in healthcare and education, with economic and political empowerment factors showing a slow rate of equality. The study found a relationship between gender gaps and economic performance. "Our work shows a strong correlation between competitiveness and the gender gap scores," says Laura Tyson, professor of economics at the University of California-Berkeley. "Countries that do not fully capitalise effectively on one-half of their human resources run the risk of undermining their competitive potential." Source: www.earthtimes.org, November 12, 2007
PTI, November 11, 2007
The Financial Times, November 10, 2007
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