Indian Women in Banking Industry: Breaking the Glass Ceiling?

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Themes: HRM \ OB
Pub Date : 2009
Countries : India
Industry : Services

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Case Code : HRM0061
Case Length : 20 Pages
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Women in Indian Society: From Custodians of Conservatism to Corporate Catalysts. cont...

Article 16 guarantees that no citizen shall be discriminated against in matters of public employment on the grounds of sex. Article 42 directs the State to make provision for ensuring just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. Above all, the Constitution imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen through Article 15 (A) (e) to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women. Article 39 (a) and (d) declares that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood and also there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women."³ Though many women empowerment activities and reforms granting equal rights to women were introduced, there was no impact or change in the attitude of people. The socio-cultural restrictions were the primary obstacles in women development, which created gender discrimination in the country. However, because of some factors - like death of the bread winner, sudden fall in family income or inadequate family income - women took part in informal employment (small trader, artisan or field labourer on a family farm). But yet, that did not result in women empowerment.

India Inc.: The Changing Gender Composition

With the process of globalisation in 1990s, which focused on the development of Indian society, the status of women has undergone a remarkable shift. Thereafter, issues related to women education, empowerment and employment received greater attention in the planning circle and aimed to eradicate discriminations. Initiation of economic reforms in India in early 1990s markedly transformed the patterns of employment of Indian women and brought real renaissance in the status of women. "In India, globalisation has provided opportunities for educated, middle class women to build their own dreams and excel in fields, which were hitherto perceived as male domains,"⁴ expressed Pallavi Bhakru, partner and director, International Business at Grant Thornton⁵.

Gradually, women participation in formal labour force increased from 22.3% in 1990-1991 to 31.6% in 2000-2001.⁶ Factors like changing management policies, technological changes and social changes with regard to women's education and employment contributed to the growth of women employment. Globalisation and growing emphasis on education have helped to raise the status of women. According to industry analysts, "Female enrollment in higher education has merely trebled in the past three decades, the number of women studying commerce and business has gone up ten times since the mid-1980s."⁷

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3]"The Constitution of Indian", http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf
4]"More Indian women in senior management: Survey",http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/03/28/stories/ 2007032802251000.htm, March 8th 2007
5]Grant Thornton International surveys privately held businesses around the world each year on a range of timely and relevant issues. The data is organised into a number of topical reports which examine key issues relating to privately held businesses.
6]Divakaruni Chitra Banerjee, "Power Goddess", http://archives.digitaltoday.in/indiatoday/20050404/cover.html, April 4th 2004
7]Nandi Suresh, "Hello Ms Money", http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20101997/biz.html, 20th October 1997