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Introduction

Patriarchy refers to a hierarchical power structure where men dominate and women remain subordinate. This subordination is visible in both the private and public spheres, where women are denied access to rights, opportunities, and resources available more freely to men.

Role of Patriarchal Social Structure in Occupational Segregation:

  • Dual Burden:
    Economic liberalization post-1990s saw more women employed, but they now face a double burden—paid employment plus unpaid domestic work—due to nuclear families and high domestic help costs.
  • Corporate Glass Ceiling:
    Patriarchal expectations around caregiving limit women’s career growth.
    ▸ Only 4% of CEOs in India were women in 2019 (Prime Database).
  • Pink Jobs:
    Women are confined to “pink-collar” jobs in service sectors like sales, IT support, and customer care, limiting occupational freedom.
  • Safety Concerns:
    Workplace mobility is constrained by safety issues.
    ▸ The #MeToo movement (2018) exposed widespread sexual harassment.
  • Wage Gap:
    Women receive less pay for equivalent work.
    ▸ India ranked 135/146 on wage equality (Global Gender Gap Index 2022).
  • Stereotypes and Bias:
    Women in male-dominated fields are perceived as less competent, which restricts advancement to leadership roles.
  • Limited Access to Education/Training:
    Historical disadvantages restrict women from acquiring high-skill jobs, keeping them in low-wage, low-skill employment.

Steps Needed to Address the Issue:

  • Behavioural Nudge:
    ▸ Use tax incentives for shared child-care responsibilities.
    ▸ Promote paternity leave and women’s entry into male-dominated fields.
  • Gender Sensitization:
    ▸ Start at family, school, and workplace levels.
    ▸ E.g. NCERT removed gender-biased content in textbooks.
  • Social Security and Financial Literacy:
    ▸ Extend formalization of jobs.
    ▸ E.g. SHG–Bank Linkage Programme for financial inclusion.
  • Gender Justice at Work:
    ▸ Enforce the Sexual Harassment Act.
    ▸ Promote diversity training and anti-bias courses.
  • Legal Reforms:
    ▸ Implement equal pay, maternity benefits, and promote equal representation.
  • Political Representation:
    ▸ 33% reservation for women in Panchayats and Local Bodies.
    ▸ Add capacity building and leadership training.

Conclusion

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a prerequisite for development and poverty reduction. A patriarchal structure must not restrict women’s potential; equal opportunities ensure a more equitable, inclusive, and progressive society.

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