An abstract

on
Gender Discrimination at work place : A Bane to women
Empowerment in India
Women empowerment is the most frequently used term in development dialogue today. It
is a widely interpreted concept which has simultaneously became a tool for analysis and
umbrella concept to justify development theories.
Empowerment is an ongoing and dynamic process to enhance
women’s abilities with a view to make them at par with men. Put in the right perspective,
empowerment refers to self- confidence, self- awareness, and assertiveness. But in practice
we find that female workers are facing sexual harassment and gender discrimination in their
day to day work at offices, institutions, factories, building sites, or any other areas when
they step out of their home.
The reason behind is the behavioral problem and gender insensitivity
of men towards women. Daily work has become a bit of minefield for them. Everyday
female staffs are subjugated to probing questions and glances related to their sex. Women
like men must be recognized for their work and not by their gender or sex appeal. Questions
about marital status and kids come naturally to Indian women. One does not ask a man such
questions. Such Queries can put off or force to tell a lie to women who want to decide their
own careers.
Issues like space, stereotypes, conventions, dressing and physical
power are changing and employees across all levels have to learn to adapt to these changes.
A female staff or worker must not be made to suffer against official promotion or a raise in
salary simply because she is physically weak or have become pregnant. The right to refuse
or leave a job should lie with the women. Only then women shall feel empowered.
Thus much of the debate centres- around behavioral issues and
gender insensitivity vis a vis male vs female. The day female workers are treated as equals
empowerment shall creep in naturally. So the aim of my paper shall be to examine the
issues related to gender insensitivity/discrimination at workplace and its impact on women
empowerment in India.