Recent developments in India have brought into light critical issues around women’s roles in the domestic sphere. Despite claims of women-led development by political leaders, deep-rooted problems persist. These include domestic violence, undervaluation of women’s unpaid work, and regressive social attitudes. The 2024 Time Use Survey (TUS) and ongoing reports reveal stark gender inequalities in work, care, and safety within homes.
Context of Domestic Violence
India continues to face a grave crisis of violence against women. From 2017 to 2022, approximately 7,000 women died annually due to dowry-related violence. The National Family Health Survey-5 found 30% of women reported abuse by intimate partners, yet only 14% sought police help. Domestic violence cases form about one-third of crimes against women. Political silence on these issues contrasts with vocal opposition to inter-community relationships, reflecting ideological biases rooted in conservative traditions.
Regressive Social and Political Attitudes
Statements by influential leaders demanding larger families reflect a disregard for women’s autonomy. Cultural norms pressurise women to remain in violent marriages, justified by notions of sacramental marriage and Indian culture. Efforts to dilute domestic violence laws and resist criminalising marital rape reveal systemic resistance to women’s rights within the family.
Time Use Survey 2024 Findings
The TUS 2024 exposed vast gender gaps in work and care responsibilities. Among women aged 15-59, only 25% engaged in paid employment averaging five hours daily. In family enterprises, 23% of women worked nearly two hours. Men’s participation was higher in paid work (75% working eight hours) but lower in family enterprises. Women overwhelmingly performed unpaid domestic tasks—93% spent seven hours daily on chores and 41% on caregiving, while 70% of men did no domestic work. Men’s average daily domestic work was 26 minutes; unpaid caregiving was under 16 minutes.
Undervaluation of Women’s Work
Women’s unpaid domestic and caregiving labour is largely invisible in economic measures. A 2023 State Bank of India survey estimated monetising this work would add over 7% to India’s GDP. Despite this, government policies treat women’s care work as voluntary, offering minimal honoraria rather than fair wages or employment benefits. This invisibility sustains low subsistence wages for male workers, subsidised by women’s unpaid labour.
Policy and Social Recommendations
Addressing these issues requires multi-pronged efforts – – Cultural and policy measures to eliminate domestic violence. – Equal employment rights and wages for men and women. – Universal access to child and elder care facilities. – Quality healthcare and education for all. – Promotion of shared domestic responsibilities between genders. – Recognition of care workers as formal employees with fair wages and benefits.
Questions for UPSC:
- Point out the social and economic impacts of undervaluing unpaid domestic work in India and estimate its influence on national GDP.
- Critically analyse the cultural and legal challenges in criminalising marital rape in India with suitable examples from recent debates.
- Underline the role of women in India’s workforce and domestic sphere, and how government policies affect gender equality in employment and caregiving.
- What are the causes of domestic violence in India? How do political ideologies influence the response to such violence and women’s rights?
