Myths and taboos surrounding menstruation have long kept women out of numerous spheres of sociocultural life. Talk about it in relation to India. Provide some strategies to dispel these beliefs and taboos as well.
Model Answer Introduction The gig economy, characterized by short-term, flexible, and independent work arrangements, has the potential to significantly empower women in India. This emerging sector offers various opportunities that can help women balance their personal and professional lives. Body 1.Read more
Model Answer
Introduction
The gig economy, characterized by short-term, flexible, and independent work arrangements, has the potential to significantly empower women in India. This emerging sector offers various opportunities that can help women balance their personal and professional lives.
Body
1. Balancing Work and Family
Gig employment allows women to work part-time and choose flexible hours, enabling them to manage traditional family roles alongside their careers. For instance, platforms like Amazon and Flipkart have opened avenues for women in rural areas to sell products online, providing them with a source of income while fulfilling family responsibilities.
2. Flexibility to Enter and Exit
Cultural and societal norms often hinder women’s employment opportunities. The gig economy allows women to engage in on-demand work, giving them the freedom to join or leave the workforce as per their convenience. This flexibility is crucial for women who may face barriers in traditional employment settings.
3. New Employment Opportunities
With the rise of work-from-home options and digital technology, women in tier 2 and 3 cities can access jobs that require minimal travel. The acceptance of virtual working for roles in sales and distribution has further expanded opportunities for women, allowing them to work from the safety of their homes.
4. Financial Independence
Gig employment provides women with the chance to earn additional income, which boosts their confidence and decision-making power—key components of empowerment. This financial independence is vital for women seeking to assert their autonomy in both personal and professional spheres.
5. Access to Higher-Paying Jobs
The gig economy has enabled women to access higher-paying, skilled jobs in fields like consulting, design, and marketing. These opportunities can be more lucrative than traditional roles, helping to bridge the gender wage gap.
Challenges
Despite its benefits, the gig economy presents several challenges for women:
- Lack of Security: Gig work is subject to market fluctuations, leading to uncertainty in job availability and career stability.
- Absence of Benefits: Gig workers often lack access to minimum wages, insurance, retirement plans, and maternity benefits.
- Wage Disparities: Gig workers are typically paid based on the amount of work completed, without the benefits enjoyed by permanent employees.
- Self-Funded Upskilling: Women in the gig economy must invest in their own skill development, as companies do not provide training.
- Limited Growth Opportunities: Low-skill gig workers often face restricted career advancement and are not considered for promotions.
- Demand-Supply Mismatch: An oversupply of potential gig workers can depress wages, particularly affecting women.
Conclusion
In the short term, the gig economy can enhance female labor force participation and contribute to women’s empowerment in India. However, for long-term sustainability, there is a need for predictable and formal employment opportunities, along with supportive labor laws and regulations that promote skill development and equitable pay.
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Menstruation in India has been carrying a lot of myths and stigmas, even in the 20th century. The restrictions to walking in the kitchen, to worship in the temples. These stigmas and myths have decreased women's ability to stand out more in public. Because somewhere in their minds, every woman feelsRead more
Menstruation in India has been carrying a lot of myths and stigmas, even in the 20th century. The restrictions to walking in the kitchen, to worship in the temples. These stigmas and myths have decreased women’s ability to stand out more in public. Because somewhere in their minds, every woman feels ashamed if they do not follow the unnecessary boundaries of society. Women face discrimination on the political, economic, and social front. But these myths have created much more powerless womanhood, the biological natural process that our patriarchal society is not ready to accept rather puts boundaries for not letting women do their regular routine things. Women should educate the world by letting them know the reasons and causes behind it. Unless and until people do not show empathy regarding these sensitive issues, there will not be any difference then. Other than educating people, one should provide girls with their hygiene products openly through some NGOs which will remove the hesitation that people still have talking about menstruation.
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