BCCL
Educated women tend to marry more educated men who earn higher incomes. When the household income increases and the reliance on the women’s earnings falls, it incentivises women to drop out of the labour force and focus on their “status production”. Families and caste groups gain status by a woman’s seclusion from the labour market, except in cases of white-collar governmental jobs, which are considered highly respectful and thus, receive family support.
Men control women's lives under patriarchal institutions to a large extent, and women’s own internalised patriarchy influences the labour market decisions they make.
According to the National Family and Health Survey (2015-16), 16% of surveyed women do not participate in decisions regarding their own healthcare, household purchases, and visiting relatives. For 17% of women, their employment decisions are made by their husbands.
Akshita Sharma, the author, is a Research Associate at Social and Political Research Foundation (SPRF). Headquartered in New Delhi, SPRF is a policy think tank.