In your house or neighbourhood, you might come across many women who, even though they have technical degrees and diplomas and also free time to go to work, do not go to work. Ask them the reasons for not going to work. List all of them and discuss in the classroom whether they should go for work and why, and also ways by which they could be sent for work. Some social scientists argue that housewives working at home without getting paid for that work must also be regarded as contributing to the gross national product and therefore, as engaged in an economic activity. Would you agree?
Reasons why women do not go to work:
Women with technical degrees often do not work due to several reasons. Where men are able to earn high incomes, families discourage female members from taking up jobs. Many household activities done by women are not recognised as productive work, leading to non-recognition of women's work.
Should they go for work:
Yes, women should be encouraged to work. Their participation in economic activities is very low—only about 19 urban females per 100 and 30 rural women per 100 are engaged in economic activities. Recognising their contribution is important for accurate estimation of women workers in the country.
Ways to send them for work:
- Creating awareness about recognising household work as productive work
- Providing better working conditions and status in enterprises
- Encouraging families to support female employment
Housewives and GDP:
Yes, I agree that housewives working at home without pay should be regarded as contributing to the gross national product. Those activities which contribute to GNP are called economic activities. Women actively engaged in household activities and at family farms certainly contribute to the maintenance of the household and farms. Since all those engaged in economic activities are considered workers, housewives should be counted as workers. The narrow definition of work leads to underestimation of women workers in the country.
Explanation
This question tests understanding of women's work participation and the concept of economic activity. The textbook explains that women's household work is often not recognised as productive, leading to underestimation of women workers. The context clearly states that families discourage women from working where men earn high incomes. For the GDP question, the textbook defines economic activities as those contributing to GNP, and argues that women's unpaid household work contributes to maintenance of household and farms, thus qualifying as economic activity.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify reasons from context - families discourage women where men earn high incomes
Step 2: Note the low participation rates - 19% urban, 30% rural women work
Step 3: Apply definition - economic activities contribute to GNP
Step 4: Conclude - household work contributes to maintenance, hence is economic activity