Women’s economic opportunity has been a matter of concern for a long time now, and it is critical to understand the state of women’s economic rights globally. The World Bank has recently published a report on the matter, measuring laws that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. The report uses several indicators such as Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, among others. The report highlights the current state of women’s economic rights globally and provides recommendations for improvement.

Global Key Findings

The report found that globally, women enjoy only 77% of the legal rights that men do, indicating that legal gender equality is still a long way off. At the current pace, it would take at least 50 years to approach legal gender equality everywhere. The report presents an index on the life cycle of a working woman, with India scoring 74.4 out of a possible 100. The index takes into account laws and regulations affecting women’s economic opportunities from childhood to retirement.

Reforms Needed in India

The report identifies several areas in which India needs to make reforms to improve women’s economic opportunity, including:

  • Laws affecting women’s pay
  • Laws affecting women’s work after having children
  • Constraints on women starting and running a business
  • Gender differences in property and inheritance, among others.

Recommendations for India

The report also provides recommendations for India to improve women’s economic opportunity, including:

  • Improving legal equality for women
  • Mandating equal remuneration for work of equal value
  • Allowing women to work at night and in an industrial job in the same way as men, among others.

Steps Taken in India for Improving Working Opportunities for Women

India has taken some steps to improve working opportunities for women, such as:

  • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
  • Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016
  • Several State Governments including Karnataka, UP have allowed factories to employ women on night shifts.

MCQs on Women’s Economic Opportunity

  1. What percentage of legal rights do women enjoy globally as compared to men?
    A. 50%
    B. 77%
    C. 90%
    D. 100%
    Correct Answer: B. 77%.

    Explanation: The World Bank report on women’s economic opportunity found that women globally enjoy only 77% of the legal rights that men do.
  2. Which of the following is NOT an area where India needs to make reforms to improve women’s economic opportunity?
    A. Laws affecting women’s pay
    B. Laws affecting women’s work after having children
    C. Constraints on women starting and running a business
    D. Gender equality in the military
    Correct Answer: D. Gender equality in the military.

    Explanation: The report identifies several areas in which India needs to make reforms to improve women’s economic opportunity, including laws affecting women’s pay, laws affecting women’s work after having children, and constraints on women starting and running a business.
  3. What steps has India taken to improve working opportunities for women?
    A. Mandating equal remuneration for work of equal value
    B. Prohibiting employment of women on night shifts
    C. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
    D. Removing maternity benefits for women
    Correct Answer: C. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

    Explanation: India has taken several steps to improve working opportunities for women, including the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Additionally, several state governments, including Karnataka and UP, have allowed factories to employ women on night shifts.

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