Inspiring Inclusion On International Women's Day

As the world celebrates International Women's Day, India stands at a pivotal moment in its journey towards gender equality and female empowerment. The theme for this year, #InspireInclusion, underscores the importance of taking concrete actions to advance women's rights and opportunities across various spheres of society. In the Indian context, where women have historically faced systemic barriers in the workforce, this theme resonates deeply as organisations and policymakers strive to forge a more inclusive future.

Economic Empowerment: Bridging the Gender Gap

Despite progress in recent years, India continues to grapple with significant gender disparities in economic participation. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2021, India ranks 140th out of 156 countries in terms of gender parity. One of the key challenges is the persistent gender pay gap, with women earning significantly less than their male counterparts across various industries and sectors.

“Inclusion isn't just about acknowledging differences; it's about actively dismantling barriers and cultivating opportunities for everyone to thrive. There is a need to promote flexible work options that cater to diverse needs with part-time, remote and flexible work arrangements while nurturing inclusive workplaces to foster an environment where women feel valued, respected and supported. This can be further amplified by fostering their presence in boardrooms, executive positions and STEM fields, through scholarships, mentorship programs, celebrating achievements; facilitating funding access; and addressing unique challenges. This will help bridge the gender gaps to a great extent,” highlights Prathima Prabhu, Chief People Officer, Marlabs.

Statistics from the National Statistical Office reveal that Indian women earn, on average, 35 per cent less than men, highlighting the urgent need for action to address this disparity. To forge women's economic empowerment, organisations must prioritise pay equity and implement policies that promote fair compensation practices. Initiatives such as transparent salary structures, gender-sensitive performance evaluations and targeted interventions to close the pay gap can make a tangible difference in empowering women financially.

Nurturing Female Leadership

Recruiting, retaining and developing female talent remains a priority for organisations seeking to build diverse and inclusive workforces. While women constitute nearly half of India's population, their representation in leadership roles remains disproportionately low. According to Catalyst's India Inc. report, women hold only 7.8 per cent of board seats in NIFTY 500 companies, highlighting the stark gender imbalance in corporate leadership.

“Recruiting, retaining & developing female talent is crucial, especially in industries like textiles that heavily employ women. To achieve diversity goals, it's essential for these industries to lead the way by making small yet meaningful changes to their ecosystems. This includes ensuring safety, security, comfort and acknowledging the realities women face in society. It's essential for male counterparts to recognise and challenge unconscious biases, sensitising them to the impact these biases can have on women in the organisation. Awareness is the first step in overcoming biases and creating a more inclusive environment,” states Pooja B Luthra, Group CHRO, Trident Group.

To support women's advancement into leadership positions, organisations must implement targeted initiatives such as mentorship programmes, leadership development training and inclusive talent management practices. By creating pathways for career progression and fostering a culture of inclusion, companies can harness the full potential of their female workforce and drive sustainable growth.

“From a social justice point of view, providing equal opportunities to women across the employee life cycle is not only the right thing to do but also contributes to the world’s efforts in achieving gender equality through sustainable talent management.  By challenging gender biases and stereotypes, gender equality not just benefits only women, it benefits the dominant group and all the historically under-represented communities in the process,” says Roopa Badrinath, Founder and Principal Consultant of Turmeric Consulting.  

Breaking Barriers for Women

In fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and entrepreneurship, women continue to face barriers to entry and advancement. Despite accounting for a significant share of STEM graduates, women remain underrepresented in STEM professions and entrepreneurship ventures.

“Creating more women leaders is a topic that most of us across industries have been grappling with for the past several years. While organisations have taken significant steps in building programs, processes and policies, a key element that is needed, is inspiring a higher level of motivation and ambition in women,” comments Kameshwari Rao, Global Chief People Officer, Publicis Sapient

Data from the National Science Foundation reveals that women comprise only 14 per cent of India's engineering workforce, highlighting the gender gap in STEM fields.

“It is often said that Diversity is a fact, Inclusion is a choice. Enable women as leaders. While institutions are working around strengthening women leadership, they should be cognizant of the fact that women have a seat on the table as women leaders. They should be stopped getting addressed as diversity candidate,” explains Rubi Khan, Head-Culture, Learning, Talent & DEI, Luminous Power Technologies.

To support women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship, concerted efforts are required to dismantle structural barriers, provide access to training and mentorship and create enabling environments for innovation and business growth. Initiatives such as scholarships, incubation programmes and networking opportunities can empower women to pursue careers in STEM and entrepreneurship and contribute to India's economic development.

“Women need equity-driven enablers to support them through their life stages to effectively tap into their aspirations and potential. Companies need to have a multi-pronged approach to arrest the leaky pipeline of female talent, in particular from mid-level to C-Suite. Identification and removal of systemic barriers across the career enhancing touchpoints (stretch assignments, promotions, mentoring, networking, sponsorship) will be a critical success factor. Special focus has to be paid to eliminate sexism which can lead to harmful biases like prove-it-again bias (performance vs potential), tightrope walk bias (effective but not likeable; likeable but not effective) and maternal-wall bias (bias against mothers),” adds Badrinath.

Empowering Women and Girls

Access to quality education and healthcare is fundamental to women's empowerment and well-being. In India, persistent gaps in educational attainment and healthcare access hinder women's socio-economic progress and limit their opportunities for advancement.

“There is a need to embrace technological advancements, focusing on sustainability and traceability. Women should be provided with ample opportunities to upskill themselves and stay ahead of the curve in adopting new technologies. The elimination of redundant roles through technological advancements can lead to more efficient production processes, potentially reducing the need for three shifts to two. This shift can facilitate greater workforce participation among women while accommodating their familial responsibilities,” highlights Luthra.

According to UNICEF, nearly 17 million girls in India are out of school, reflecting the challenges of gender-based discrimination and cultural norms that prioritise boys' education over girls. Additionally, women and girls continue to face barriers to accessing essential healthcare services, including reproductive and maternal health care.

“The focus needs to be on building a psychologically safe environment, enabling women to seek counsel and be their authentic selves. This combined with sponsorship and advocacy initiatives, will encourage them to embrace their unique leadership styles and lead with authenticity. At an organizational level it could help lead to an elevated understanding of women's leadership and their role as leaders,” adds Rao.

To address these challenges, concerted efforts are needed to promote girls' education, eliminate gender-based discrimination in schools and provide comprehensive healthcare services that prioritise women's health needs. By investing in education and healthcare infrastructure that caters to the needs of women and girls, India can unlock their full potential and pave the way for inclusive development.

A Call to Action for Gender Equality

As India commemorates International Women's Day, the theme of #InspireInclusion serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to advance gender equality and empower women and girls across all spheres of society. By harnessing the collective efforts of government, civil society, businesses and individuals, India can realise its vision of a society where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill her potential.

On this International Women's Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to #InspireInclusion and take bold steps towards a future where gender equality is not just a goal but a lived reality for all.