New Delhi: Eighty-five percent of working women in India believe they missed out on a raise and promotion because of their gender, as per a report by LinkedIn. While sharing their reasons for being unhappy with opportunities to advance in their careers, 1 in 5 (20 per cent) said that their companies exhibit a ‘favourable bias’ towards men at work.
Though 66 per cent of professionals believe that gender equality has improved in India, working women still face the strongest gender bias across Asia-Pacific countries, The Indian Express (TIE) reported quoting PTI.
LinkedIn released the Opportunity Index 2021 report ahead of the International Women’s Day 2021. It is a composite measure that seeks to understand how people perceive opportunities and the barriers that stand in the way of achieving them, the report added.
Gender disparity
The difference in perception of available opportunities in the market for both genders:
- 37 per cent of India’s working women claimed to have received fewer opportunities than men due to gender
- Only 25 per cent of men agree with this. “This disparity in perception is also seen in conversations about equal pay, as more women (37 per cent) say they get less pay than men, while only 21 per cent men share this sentiment,” it added.
- Despite having similar goals in life, more women (63 per cent) think a person’s gender is important to get ahead in life when compared to men (54 per cent).
- More than 7 in 10 working women (71 per cent) and working mothers (77 per cent) feel that managing familial responsibilities often come in their way of career development.
- 63 per cent of working women and 69 per cent of working mothers said they have faced discrimination at work because of familial and household responsibilities.
Impact of COVID-19
- 9 in 10 women stated that they were negatively impacted by the pandemic. “Women have been disproportionately impacted amid Covid-19, and the expectations to juggle home and work life have wreaked havoc in their lives,” the report said.
- “As a result of the barriers faced by women at work, more than 1 in 2 women and working mothers in India expect organisations to offer reduced or part-time schedules (56 per cent) and robust maternity leaves and policies (55 per cent) to make the transition smoother,” it added.
Equality
- Working women give more importance to the type of employer that they choose to work with.
- The recognition they will receive for the work they do, and the skills that will be utilised on the job are some critical factors.
- 50 per cent women are actively seeking employers who treat them as equal
- 56 per cent are looking to get recognition at work for what they do.
- 65 per cent of women said that lack of guidance through networks is a key opportunity barrier.
“Gender inequality at work and added domestic responsibilities amid the pandemic have collectively made women’s jobs more vulnerable at this time. As COVID-19 continues to widen these gaps, this year’s LinkedIn Opportunity Index report suggests that it is the need of the hour for organisations to reimagine their diversity practices and offer greater flexibility to caregivers, in order to increase female participation in the workforce. Reduced and flexible schedules, more sabbaticals, and new opportunities to upskill and learn are critical offerings that can help organizations attract, hire, and retain more female talent,” says Ruchee Anand, director, Talent and Learning Solutions, India at LinkedIn.
What LinkedIn is doing
To help working women, LinkedIn has come up with five learning courses that are available for free till March 31, 2021. These include Leadership Strategies for Women, Planning Your Family Leave and Return, Proven Success Strategies for Women at Work, Own It: The Power of Women at Work and Becoming a Male Ally at Work.
