Gender Inequality in India

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : May 30, 2022, 5:15

The United Nations defines inequality as "the state of not being equal, notably in terms of status, rights, and opportunities." Gender inequality refers to structural disparities between different genders based on said gender.

Statistics on Gender Inequality in India

India is ranked 142 out of 149 nations in the 2018 Global Gender Gap Report.

Economic involvement and opportunity, health and survival, educational attainment, and political empowerment are the four factors used to measure gender inequality.

According to the International Labor Organization, India has an enormous income disparity between men and women. 1/4 of the time, women get paid 34% less than men.

According to the India Human Development Survey, women make up about 42% of the agricultural labour force in the country, although they control less than 2% of the country's farmland (IHDS).

Gender Inequality Index

The UNDP pioneered the Gender Inequality Indicator, a new index for determining gender disparity, in the 2010 HDI Report 20th anniversary edition.

This score, according to the United Nations Development Programme, is a composite evaluation that quantifies the loss of success within a nation owing to gender inequality and does so using three dimensions:

  • Reproductive health
  • Empowerment
  • Participation in the labour market

According to the HDI Report 2011, India is ranked 129th out of 146 nations on the GII Index. In addition, India has the most significant inequities in human development among the BRICS countries.

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Reasons for Gender Inequality in India

  • Women continue to bear the primary responsibility for caring for their families and raising their children.
  • Currently, many women can be found in the 'Arts' profession, while the same amount is lacking in the 'Science' department. This is because girls are not prepared for arithmetic, physics, or chemistry.
  • Women are typically considered suitable for "pink-collar positions," such as teachers, nurses, receptionists, babysitters, and lecturers, stereotyped women. This limits their options in other areas.
  • Many women are forced to leave the workforce due to family obligations.
  • Companies want to hire more young women since it is widely accepted that the work-family environment, marriage, and pregnancy drives a married woman to resign.
  • In comparison to men, women get paid less for the same task.
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Bridging the Gender Inequality in India

Women must be provided with a variety of options and abilities without discrimination or stereotyping, in addition to receiving an education.

Women's health and safety should be prioritized to engage in public life effectively. The pay gap between men and women for the same occupation and skill set must be closed at all levels.

Women should be able to choose the size of their family, including the number of children and the spacing between them. Furthermore, all women must be educated on contraception.

To create a relaxing working environment for a woman, support from society, family, and the workplace is needed. If a working couple does not invest a portion of their income on domestic arrangements, the woman will be sidelined.

A woman's family must understand that she is working in a specific field because it is her passion, not only to get money. In addition, the parents must plan ahead of time for the child's life for them to not suffer.

Gender Inequality in India is a prevalent issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Several issues in the country trigger gender inequality. These issues need to be identified first to find a permanent solution.

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FAQs on Gender Inequality in India

Q.1. What are the values for Gender Inequality in India, as measured by the Global Gender Gap Report?

In the 2018 Global Gender Gap Report, India is rated 142 out of 149 countries. This shows a serious case of Gender Inequality in India.

Q.2. Which country displays the largest gender inequality in terms of pay differences between men and women? What does this say about Gender Inequality in India?

India is the country with the highest disparity between the pay of men and women, a crucial indicator of severe Gender Inequality in India.

Q.3. How does the Gender Inequality Index measure Gender Inequality in India?

India ranked 129th out of 146 nations in the Gender Inequality Index, indicating serious Gender Inequality in India.

Q.4. What are the indicators considered in the Gender Inequality Index to measure Gender Inequality in India and other countries?

There are two primary indicators of the Gender Inequality Index: Mental Mortality Ration and Adolescent Fertility Rate. Both are factored into measuring Gender Inequality in India and other countries.