Centre For Social Research - Women & Economy

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Women & Economy

CSR believes that the economic empowerment of women is a crucial part of creating a gender just and equitable society. As a UNFPA report from 2007 puts it:

“Economic empowerment can … provide incentives to change the patterns of traditional behaviour to which a woman is bound as a dependent member of the household. In short, gainful employment empowers impoverished women in various spheres of their lives, influencing sexual and reproductive health choices, education and healthy behaviour.”[1]

Cultural norms and patriarchal structures limit women's possibilities to engage in paid employment. When women do work, it is often in the informal sector, which is characterized by low-skilled, low paid jobs and a lack of protection and benefits. Moreover, working women face wage discrimination and barriers to their advancement. Economic empowerment provides a key to changing the gender relations within society: a larger degree of economic independence can give women more self-confidence, a greater voice in the family, perhaps a say in how the money is spent, and a way out in the case of abuse and violence.

CSR's Role

Research

CSR has undertaken several research studies into the role of women in the economy, and also conducted impact assessment studies and evaluations. A current research project looks into the problems faced by women managers in different sectors. It seeks to identify the glass ceiling that women face in their professional lives. To read more about this project, see Women Managers: Challenges and Opportunities. Some of our previous research in this area includes: analyzing the gender impact of WTO on women's livelihoods in India; women workers in the textiles and food processing industries; gender and adjustment policies; the impact of SAP on the women's coir industry in Kerala; the impact of trade and globalization on gender in India; and women workers in the fisheries Sector. To read more about this research, look at information of the Research Department.

Development Economic empowerment is also a spear point of the Development Department. As part of our development work, we train women to become self-reliant individuals through encouraging their participation in income generation activities, and by building their capacity to start micro- enterprises.

UNFPA Workshop Report: Women's Economic Empowerment: Meeting the Needs of Impoverished Women, 2007
http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2007/women_economic.pdf