Marriage and Motherhood: The Dual Penalties Affecting Women’s Workforce Participation, says World Bank Report
Marriage and Motherhood: The Dual Penalties Affecting Women's Workforce Participation, says World Bank Report
The concept of the Marriage Penalty is prevalent in India for working women, according to a World Bank survey. In contrast, men experience a different situation.
A recent World Bank report reveals that men often enjoy increased salaries after getting married, while women face a “marriage penalty” that significantly hampers their labor force participation. This highlights the persistent gender disparity in employment across South Asia, where women typically see a notable decline in workforce engagement following marriage, referred to as the “marriage penalty.”
Additionally, the report estimates that in India, women’s employment rates drop by 12 percentage points after marriage, which is about one-third of their employment rate before marriage, even in the absence of children.
India, along with the broader South Asian region, has a low female labor force participation rate, projected to be around 32% in 2023. Most countries in this region, except for Bhutan, rank in the lowest quartile according to the World Bank’s evaluation.
Moreover, women also face a “child penalty,” as the responsibilities often compel them to leave the workforce.
The report reveals that in India and the Maldives, women without children face a marriage penalty lasting up to five years after marriage, a consequence of deeply rooted social norms. In addition to this marriage penalty, women also face a “child penalty.”
The report points out that the female labor force participation rate in South Asia stood at just 32% in 2023, significantly lower than the 77% rate for men.
Franziska Ohnsorge, the World Bank’s chief economist for South Asia, stated, “If women were employed in roles as productive as men, the GDP of the South Asian region could increase by as much as 51%. South Asia, particularly India, has the potential to be a ‘bright spot’ in the global economy, but this potential could be even more pronounced with greater female workforce participation.”
This report underscores the urgent need for collective efforts to bridge the gender employment gap in South Asia, stressing the importance of enacting policy reforms and promoting social change to unlock the region’s full economic potential.
