As of 2020, India has managed to overcome quite a few gender barriers when it comes to education up to class 12. However, the story of what happens after that is not very different today from what it was a decade or two ago. It is crucial to understand the causes which make women drop out of higher education and the workforce or never join them in the first place.
Equally important to discuss are the statistics that point out that there are far fewer women involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses compared to arts and humanities, especially in higher education. So, let’s delve into these issues!
In India, female labour force participation fell from 35% in 1990 to 27% in 2018. India fares better than its neighbour Pakistan but lags behind Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and other countries at similar stages of growth and development. In most Indian households, there remains the obligation to get married early in life, and higher education for girls is not considered a viable option. In many cases, once women get married, they stop working and focus on family responsibilities, which is a significant cause of fewer females in the workforce.
Another critical aspect to consider while we talk about low female participation is the high drop out rate post-graduation. Studies suggest that about 84% of girls drop out after graduation—the pressure to marry early continues to come in the way. The median age of marriage for women in India remains 18.6, and their chances of entering the workforce and leading fulfilling lives even lower.
Considering daughters a liability, most parents often are sceptical about investing in their higher education, hesitation they do not experience while investing in the future of their sons. There remains a mindset that a woman’s primary role will shift to that of a caregiver post-marriage, and marriage itself is seen as an important milestone in her life—perhaps a goal that surpasses all other achievements.
A survey on social attitudes in 2016, found that around 40-60% of men and women believe that married women should not work if the husband earns reasonably well. Another huge issue is the decline in the number of jobs in India. When men are at a cultural and societal advantage with regard to employment, it is understood that they will have the upper hand when jobs are scarce. Sexual violence and uncomfortable/unsafe work environments also stop women from seeking employment.
Not just in India but all over the world, this vicious cycle begins when girls step back from continuing with STEM after school or university, while men don’t. This leads to skewed gender representation when it comes to STEM-related industrial or academic institutions and councils. Research indicates that about 74% of middle school girls are inclined towards STEM but Microsoft puts this percentage at a greater low in higher education.
A study performed in Europe says that women do better at math tests in gender-fair countries like Sweden and Iceland than the comparatively unfair ones like India and Turkey. We all know how important it is to have people capable of being role models in any profession. Ask five aspiring Indian cricketers, and at least three will tell you they want to be on the same pedestal as Sachin Tendulkar. Because of the lack of female role models in the STEM fields, young women don’t have women they can relate to and be inspired by.
Another huge cause that must be addressed is the sexism that women face in educational institutions and workplaces. There is a common misconception that women aren’t good in the so-called male-dominated STEM professions, which is why in many universities, girls get secondary treatment by faculty.
In most STEM workplaces, there is extreme pay and promotion disparity between men and women. According to a 2010 UK survey, women spent more hours teaching and fewer hours conducting research than men which implies that they have a higher chance of being assigned to jobs that do not bring much recognition.
Like many parts of the world, future jobs require more and more aspirants from a STEM background. The World Economic Forum estimates that India is likely to have 10-12 million graduates every year, making them the largest emerging workforce on the planet. But with only 25% of women entering the workforce, there’s a need for significant course correction. This can be done with structural changes in social attitudes that force girls out of schools and into marriages.
Behavioral shifts will play a major role in how inclusive the future workforce looks in India. Perhaps, to begin with, we need to redefine the role of women in our existing social structures. At present, women contribute only 18% to India’s GDP, one of the lowest in the world. To prosper as an economy, we need to bring more women into our workforce. A recent report showed that India could add a trillion dollars to its GDP if more women were to work. When we put this alongside the need for STEM skills needed to enter the workforce, it clearly emphasizes the need for women and girls to opt for STEM courses.
Apart from this, it is imperative that measures are taken to increase female labor force participation and their continuation of education. Societal norms need to be tackled and modified to a more gender-friendly and most importantly, women welcoming system.
Steps like increasing the duration of paid maternity leave could help to limit the drop-out of women from work after motherhood. Access to subsidized childcare may also free up time for women to engage in the labor force. It is also important for the government to create more jobs and do so in a way that they equally remain applicable, if not reserved, for women.
When it comes to getting more women into STEM, efforts need to be put in right from elementary education. Young girls should be made aware of historical and existing women who have done great work in these fields like Marie Curie, Katherine Johnson, etc.
Sexism needs to be fought in all spaces. For starters, equal pay for all genders and fair promotions might be a great idea to catalyze change. Perhaps if the right steps are taken now, very soon, this discussion might not need to take place. But, for now, it is imperative that we not only discuss but also take requisite actions.