Challenges faced by Working Women in Modern-Day Era

In today’s era, gender equality is nothing rare, work specialization is not restricted to only one gender, and women are well efficiently being found in specific roles such as entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, medical practitioners, educators, and many more. Still, such employed women are facing a variety of challenges and confronting a series of questions at every point of time. These challenges can vary based on different cultures, individual circumstances, and experiences. Just like women are expected to balance between two different families after marriage, employed women are expected to balance the societal pressure, under the domain of work ethics, along with family. In this blog, we will explore those specific challenges that working women come across in modern-day world. However, finding a way to overcome each of them is not possible but this blog will lead you to deepen your thinking capability towards the insights of women equations.

1. Work-Life Balance: The Unseen Struggle 

The concept of “having it all” is still the ultimate goal for woman which leads to compromise in either of the fields. The double burden of managing household chores as well as maintaining professional tasks creates a more stressful environment and reduces productivity. It has been surveyed that working women spend more time on domestic chores than working men. Many companies fear hiring married women because they may prioritize their family over work. These struggles are still unspoken by the majority as they are hidden behind women’s talent. Suppose there is an important meeting at the workplace and in-laws function at home is it easier for the women to choose between the two?

2. Gender Pay Gap: The Stubborn Disparity

There is an invisible barrier that prevents women from advancing to leadership positions. According to a global survey, women earn 20% less than men despite having equal qualifications and experience. The Global Gender Gap Report, 2024 published by the World Economic Forum concludes that it will take another 134 years to reach full gender parity which is far beyond the SDG target. The report also focuses that women’s hiring into leadership roles has deteriorated in 2023-24. Just a thought, do you think women can receive a salary increment after maternity leave?

3. Sexual Harassment and Workplace Discrimination Even after generating several ways to tackle sexual harassment through campaigns, social media awareness, etc, many women suffer inappropriate behaviour which leads to a hostile environment at the workplace. Not only sexual harassment, women are being sidelined in official meetings or excluded from decision-making processes. It has been injected into women’s minds that their retaliation will lead to professional disturbances. Just think, is it easy for women to object to any decision made by leading pillars of a forum?

4. Societal Expectations and Gender Roles : 

It has always been the responsibility of women to take care of children and elderly people in the family. Those who lack these services are often misjudged as well as face societal disapproval. Those who choose not to marry or not to have a child are subjected to workaholics or bossy. The traditionally defined gender roles for women are baggage as such expectations lead to feelings of guilt among women for not being able to fulfil their roles. Imagine, a woman coming home late after a meeting vs. a man coming home late after a meeting, which one is a difficult situation?

5. Lack of Supportive Policies

Nowadays, many women do stressful office work during their pregnancies, or they are forced to join back just after their delivery whether they are physically or mentally capable or not. Policies like maternity leave have aided them, but this motherhood penalty results in lower wages and limited career opportunities. Even today some women remain stuck in the dilemma of childhood care and job opportunities. Think once, can a woman easily plan a baby if she is about to get promoted in the next six months?

6. Imposter Syndrome: The Silent Battle

Our country has an orthodox thinking which has implanted a belief that women cannot be in leadership positions. Hence, there is a “self-doubt” inside every woman in that position even after being highly qualified. The women are required to prove at every phase which is emotionally draining. Conservative thinking has trapped our society to the level that women misjudge their own expertise during any achievement. The silent battle of “Am I correct?” vs. “Yes I am correct” leads to missing promotions, negotiation for salaries, etc. 

Conclusion: The Path Forward

While numerous suggestions can be made, such as organizing campaigns like #MeToo and holding protests for equality, these efforts will only yield positive results when individuals, workplaces, and society as a whole unite to create a better environment for women. It's easy to offer opinions, but implementing change on the ground is far more challenging. Many organizations have started giving paid parental leave, maternity leave, other extra leave, etc, government have provided several policies in favour of women to maintain the gender gap but the question remains the same, do these are well enough? Absolutely not! Nothing could be achieved without collective efforts. The main reason behind these challenges for still being there is segregation of entities. The connectivity between the entities that is lacking needs to be cemented to provide better results. The openness of women, acceptance of their rights, selfconfidence, together will nurture their positions at workplaces.