Question

Suggest two measures to ensure equal opportunities for women in all professions.

Hint:

Suggest practical steps rather than general wishes. Education and training, strict enforcement of equal wages, laws against harassment, maternity leave and childcare are the strongest points.

Answer 1

Concept:

• Women form about half the population, yet their share in paid work outside the home, and especially in better paid professions, remains small.
• The barriers are partly legal, partly social and partly practical, so the measures must address more than one of these at a time.

Step 1: Equal wages and strict enforcement of the law.
Women are paid less than men in many jobs even when both do the same work. The law provides for equal wages for equal work, and strict enforcement of this provision, along with penalties for employers who ignore it, would remove one of the clearest inequalities.

Step 2: Education and skill training for girls.
The literacy rate among women is lower than among men, and a smaller proportion of girls go on to higher studies. Free and compulsory schooling, scholarships and vocational training open the door to professions that at present remain closed for want of qualifications.

Step 3: A safe and supportive workplace.
Women often leave work because of unsafe travel, long hours and the absence of childcare. Safe transport, secure workplaces, laws against harassment, maternity leave and creches at the place of work allow a woman to stay in a profession instead of dropping out of it.

Step 4: Reservation and a change in social attitudes.
Reserving seats in local bodies has raised the presence of women in public life, and similar steps in recruitment can help elsewhere. Alongside this, families and society have to accept that a woman may choose any profession, since the deeper barrier is the belief that some work is not meant for her.

Final Answer: Two effective measures would be strict enforcement of equal wages for equal work along with laws against discrimination and harassment, and wider education and skill training for girls supported by safe workplaces, maternity benefits and childcare.