The role and accountabilities of women have changed drastically during the past few decades. Women are now working parallel to men in various fields but the challenges faced by the former are apparently insignificant for others. They have to encounter various problems at their workplace, like harassment, gender based discrimination, working conditions, unequal pay etc.
Today women are achieving laurels as CEOs, pilots, educationists, surgeons, bankers, human resource officers, media professionals and the like. Women are making headways in all fields and are contributing stupendously with men in this society. Women are active contributors in running the financial affairs of their families. Despite all this they are not getting their due share.
In this male dominated society of ours, men at work are constantly getting undue benefits as compared to women working at the same ranks. Men are stereotyped as more intelligent, hardworking, better and valuable employees as compared to their female counterparts. This gender discernment is resulting in augmented level of anxiety and frustration among women at job, ultimately decreasing the incentive and obligation towards their profession.
Earlier women were restricted to their home and their primary role was to take care of the household chores. To meet the increasing financial needs of their families this restriction had to be released with a ‘heavy heart’. Nowadays, most families have acknowledged the fact that women can go for higher education but within the boundaries laid down by their elders.
In this male-dominated society of ours, females are the right choice for low paid menial jobs. This overriding attitude of the society has constrained women contribution to several existing opportunities and restricted their role in the progressive segment. After a hectic routine at their workplace throughout the day, a woman is supposed to take care of her household affairs, with least consideration given to her fitness and fatigue.
Harassment by male contemporaries is another problem encountered by women because they can’t escape the ‘bull’s eye’ by any means. In our society, a large majority of females go out to earn their livelihood due to adverse family circumstances, and as a result fall prey to the pestering of either the higher management or their male colleagues. They are either made fun of or made to hear withering remarks or in adverse circumstances even sexually assaulted. Generally women are forced not to raise a voice against such heinous crimes because the consequences of this would result in either losing their jobs or becoming blacklisted.
Young women are at times paid a reduced amount as compared to men because many employers believe their female employees would quit the job after getting married. Women earn low also because they have to choose a less challenging job for themselves so they can spend more time at home. Parenthood affects the woman’s career adversely in contrast to men’s.
It becomes challenging for working women to keep domestic and professional chores in symmetry because of their augmented obligations in both arenas.
Customarily, men are supposed to be the breadwinners of the family and where women are financially contributing and earning more than their spouses, there again arises a problem because the petty egos are hurt if not emasculated.
The fields of media and journalism are gaining popularity among women but again there are many factors, like in any field, which are hindering their progression. Male domination, family constraints, hostile workstation atmosphere, dearth of training provisions, deficiency of safety measures and uncompromising operational hours are some of the chief factors which are forcing many female journalists to abandon their jobs.
Reclaiming spaces and equality seem distant dreams for now but one has to continuously work toward achieving them.
The writer is a social activist and educationist by profession. She has done Masters in Mass Communication, MSc. in Film and TV Production and MPhil in Communication Studies