Struggle for Gender Equality Persists in India: John J. Kennedy Highlights Distance Yet to Traverse
India ranks 131st out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, indicating a persistent and systemic inequality that has persisted despite gains in education and digital innovation [1][2][3]. The country's performance remains weak in economic participation and opportunity (40.7%), health and survival, and political empowerment, with women’s parliamentary representation falling from 14.7% to 13.8% [1][4].
One of the key reasons for India falling behind is the presence of structural and cultural barriers that continue to marginalize women in both public and private spheres, limiting their access to economic opportunities, political power, and healthcare [2][3]. The economic participation of women remains stagnant, with only 45.9% of working-age women engaged in the labour force, and persistent gender pay gaps across sectors [1][2].
Health indicators like the sex ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy have shown improvement, but women still face significant health disparities and limited autonomy over their bodies [1][3]. The decline in women’s parliamentary representation underscores the lack of progress in women’s political leadership, which is critical for policy influence [1][4]. Insufficient support for childcare and eldercare disproportionately affects women’s ability to participate in the workforce [2].
To address these challenges, potential policy and cultural interventions include strengthening legal frameworks against gender discrimination and violence, introducing new legislation to close gaps in pay, inheritance, and property rights, and implementing quotas for women in legislatures, corporate boards, and government jobs to accelerate political and economic representation [2]. Investing in care infrastructure, such as subsidizing and expanding childcare, eldercare, and maternal health services, can reduce the unpaid care burden on women and enable greater workforce participation [2].
Education and skills training should focus on vocational and STEM training to align female education with labor market needs, while providing tax breaks, grants, or subsidies to companies that achieve gender parity in hiring, retention, and promotion [2]. Cultural changes are also necessary, such as launching nationwide campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes, engaging men in conversations about gender equality, empowering local women leaders, and encouraging balanced and positive portrayals of women in media [2].
The approach in Nordic countries, such as Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, is rooted in the "capabilities approach", which focuses not just on what rights people formally have but on what they are actually able to do and be [3]. Schemes to support female entrepreneurs or get girls into science and tech in India are fragmented, poorly funded, and seldom evaluated for real impact [3]. Gender budgeting in India, a promising policy tool, has lost its effectiveness and is reduced to a tick-box exercise rather than a genuine attempt to rewire resource allocation [3].
Without addressing these root causes, India risks undermining its economic potential and social development goals [2][3]. Closing the gender gap will require not only robust policy interventions but also sustained efforts to transform social norms and empower women at all levels of society.
- The persistent gender inequality in India, as indicated by the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, highlights the need for science and medical advancements to tackle chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease, COPD, type-2 diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders that disproportionately affect women.
- Workplace-wellness programs could help address gender pay gaps across industries, ensuring equality in therapies and treatments for chronic diseases.
- Improving female parliamentary representation is crucial for policy influence in areas like healthcare, as women often have unique medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune disorders, breast cancer, and multiple sclerosis.
- Addressing chronic diseases requires collaborative efforts between the medical industry, Medicare, and the pharmaceutical sector, with a focus on research and development in areas like renewable energy for sustainable therapies and treatments.
- The manufacturing sector could play a key role in improving hearing aids and digital health technologies, making them more accessible and affordable for women.
- Digestive health, eye health, and skin conditions are other areas where women require specific therapies and treatments due to hormonal changes or menopause.
- The skin-care industry needs to develop products tailored for the unique needs of women during different stages of life, from pregnancy to menopause.
- Women's health extends to sexual health, family health, and reproductive health, all of which require comprehensive educational programs and easier access to services.
- Care for children and elderly family members disproportionately affects women's ability to engage in the workplace, highlighting the need for affordable childcare and eldercare services as part of a comprehensive workplace-wellness program.
- Career development, job-search assistance, learning opportunities, and goal-setting programs can empower women to advance in industries like finance, energy, retail, transportation, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, automotive, and education-and-self-development.
- Encouraging women's leadership in these industries can help address the gender gap in decision-making positions, leading to policies that promote health and wellness.
- Mindfulness, productivity, and personal growth are essential skills for success in today's workforce, and women should have equal opportunities to develop these skills.
- The stagnant economic participation of women indicates a need for integration of gender diversity in business strategies and skills-training programs in industries such as manufacturing and oil-and-gas.
- The decline in women’s parliamentary representation is concerning, as it highlights the need for greater support for women in politics and leadership roles.
- The integration of CBD oil in health and wellness products could offer potential benefits for managing conditions like migraines, chronic pain, and cardiovascular health.
- Psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune disorders that disproportionately affect women, highlighting the need for continued research and development in these areas.
- Insufficient support for women in male-dominated industries like automotive, oil-and-gas, and manufacturing can create a hostile work environment, deterring women from pursuing careers in these fields.
- The success of Nordic countries in addressing gender inequality underscores the importance of a "capabilities approach" that addresses both formal rights and practical realities.
- Policies focused on health-and-wellness, family-health, parenting, and weight-management can help improve outcomes for women and families, reducing health disparities and promoting overall wellness.
- A balanced approach that addresses structural and cultural barriers, legal frameworks, education, and skills-training could help India close the gender gap and unlock its full potential for economic growth and social development.
- The role of media in challenging gender stereotypes and promoting positive portrayals of women cannot be underestimated in efforts to transform social norms.
- Women's health, including reproductive health, sexual health, and mental health, deserves equal focus and attention in the health-and-wellness industry, from research and development to marketing and sales.
- The integration of menopause-friendly products and services in industries like fashion-and-beauty and skincare can help address the unique needs of women during this critical life stage.
- The implementation of quotas and government policies supporting women in leadership roles can help address the gender imbalance in industries like politics, finance, and energy.
- Women's empowerment and gender equality are essential for achieving sustainable development goals, and the contribution of women in fields like STEM, science, and engineering is crucial for innovation and progress.
- The lack of gender diversity in these fields highlights the need for initiatives to encourage and support girls in pursuing careers in STEM, science, and engineering.
- By addressing the root causes of gender inequality and empowering women at all levels of society, India can unlock its full economic and social potential, improving the lives of women and families across the country.
