No place for women

A hostile public environment adds to workplace patriarchy

India’s chronically low female labour force participation rate (LFPR) has been posited as an indication of the depth of patriarchy in Indian society and prejudice in Indian business. These views are valid, with recent surveys pointing to the alpha “male breadwinner” paradigm, disproportionate pressures on women to shoulder household work, and a wage gap where men corner 82 per cent of labour income. All these factors are at play in a recent analysis by consultancy EY India, which analysed hiring trends in 1,040 listed firms for 2022-23. But the study also unwittingly pointed to a critical public governance failure to