With the growing globalization and liberalization of the Indian economy as well as increased privatization of services, women as a whole have been left behind and not been able to partake the fruits of development. Mainstreaming of women into the new and emerging areas of growth is imperative. This will require training and skill upgradation in emerging trades, encouraging more women to take up vocational training and employment in the booming sectors.
Work participation of women especially in the rural context is being perceived as a policy prescription for removal of rural poverty and the much talked about feminization of poverty. Studies prove that female work participation is highly correlated with reduction in fertility rates, poverty ratios, enhancement of living standards etc. These positive outcomes have often catapulted the policy makers to promote female employment.
The concept of empowerment highly depends on the incorporation of agency criterion in its assessment. This book is an attempt to unravel the association between female work participation and empowerment of women. |
