Search on Google for the term – Marriage Penalty – and you will find references to the higher taxes that some married couples in the USA are required to pay. Now add the word “India” to it. This is a “penalty” that just Indian women have to pay.
Why? Because she got married! And what’s the “penalty”? Her Career!
For Indian women, marriage and pregnancy have most often left a deep impact on their career paths, leaving them at a disadvantage. This impact is so significant that we now have a term for it here as well – Marriage penalty! According to a recent World Bank report, female employment rates drop by 12 percentage points after marriage, which is about one-third of their pre-marriage employment level, even when children are not in picture here.
To further highlight this stark gendered biasness, comes in the other side of the coin. While one pays the “penalty,” their male counterparts experience a “marriage premium,” with their employment rising by 13 percentage points.
Why are Women paying a “penalty” for getting married?
Marriage is seen as a significant milestone and a celebrated moment in India, filled with happiness and blessing. It is a bond of two individuals coming together to signify equal partnership. Then why is it so disproportionately affecting women and their professional ambitions?
Socially and culturally, we all are aware that marriage brings a lot of changes into a woman’s life. From leaving her parental home to her given surname, and even their personalities and choices many a times, women are traditionally expected to change it all after marriage.
Indian society largely expects women to prioritize family over career after marriage, reinforcing gendered roles that limit their economic potential. With domestic responsibilities, particularly caregiving and household chores, landing on women, it often ends up costing their careers or opt for part-time, lower-paying, less demanding roles.
But it doesn’t end there, there is another penalty as well!
It is not just one penalty that women have to pay for getting married. This is later followed by what is called “child penalty.” This one has many names – maternity penalty, motherhood penalty – call it what you may, it all means the same. It refers to economic and professional disadvantages women face for becoming mothers. Another joyous moment and significant milestone marred by gender disparity for women.
Many married women face a steeper decline in their wages and employment opportunities once they become mothers, as caregiving responsibilities further limit their ability to engage in full-time work. According to statistics, 73 percent of Indian women leave their jobs after giving birth; 50 percent leave their jobs to take care of their children; and even among those who manage to return, 48 percent drop out within four months of rejoining the workforce.
This doesn’t just affect women, there are economic implications too!
This “marriage penalty” is not only affecting women, it has broader implications for India’s economy and society. Women’s economic participation is essential for the country’s growth, yet their marginalization from the workforce represents a significant loss of potential productivity.
According to a report by McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), bridging the gender gap in the economy could lead to an increase of 30% in a country’s GDP. But despite being 48% of population, Indian women currently only contribute 18% in GDP, and that too mostly in the unorganized sector.
By limiting women’s access to employment and growth opportunities further, India is not only underutilizing a key capital human resource, but also pushing the prospects to increase the country’s GDP further.
But, how do we address “marriage penalty”?
It is not one agency that can work towards correcting this issue. To address “marriage penalty” we need a multi-pronged approach, where everyone from society to corporations and even the Government need to come together to provide stronger support systems for working women and mothers.
Introduction of policies that promote gender equality in the workforce are required, which go beyond just maternity leave policies. Apart from introducing new policies, enforcing them is also important, which is in the hands of companies and corporates to encourage equal work opportunities for women.
We need to bring a change in society’s mind-set as well with education and awareness campaigns targeting both men and women. Men should be encouraged to shoulder equal household responsibilities to level the playing field for women.
Women, especially working mothers, need stronger support systems so they can balance family and career together. This can include offering more accessible and affordable daycare centers, employer-provided childcare, and family-friendly workplace policies.
Another way to address this can also be by introducing programs that focus on women’s economic empowerment, such as skills training, microfinance opportunities, and entrepreneurial support. This can provide married women with the tools they need to sustain financial independence.
By dismantling the cultural, social and economic barriers that hold women back after marriage, India can take a crucial step towards a more inclusive and prosperous future. Let’s hope in future women are not penalized for experiencing the joys of marriage or motherhood by sacrificing their professional dreams for it.
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