Working Women Challenges – A study by mHealth

Working environments for men and women have been transformed by the new normal. A woman who has worked for over three decades must have faced and conquered obstacles to maintain a healthy work-life balance for herself and her family. Individually, we all face obstacles at work. You have probably heard a lot about issues like the gender pay gap and women's underrepresentation in leadership roles by now. Women working in any section have the challenges that she faces. Imbalance in work-life, workplace harassment, familial issues, and childcare are the major challenges faced by working women. Let's try to reveal all of the challenges one by one- Gender Bias- It has been a long battle, and unfavorable stereotypes about women's talents are nothing new. During the hiring process, gender bias is extremely prevalent. Unconscious biases are an underlying element in women's race to establish themselves in the job, whether it's through performance, ambition, or attitude. Traditional Social Norms- Women feel under pressure because of traditional social norms such as parenthood, consortship, and being a housewife. This is also a direct cause of gender discrimination in the workplace for women. Some organizations with similar inclinations, for example, will not hire women who plan to marry or have children. Work Place Harassment- Additionally, there are issues that women confront that cause stress, such as mobbing, sexual harassment, and dress codes. Some employers' dress code restrictions make female employees feel limited. Mobbing, verbal, and sexual harassment can have a negative impact on their friendships, motivation, and, of course, success. Ambitious Women- Women are regarded all over the world as being the most dynamic and adaptable. They are easily moulded into a variety of roles, including daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, and so on. Every girl has ambitions as she grows up; such as wanting to be a princess, but as time passes, they mature into more realistic and strong ideas, and some do go on to become princesses themselves. Most people achieve the pinnacle of success, yet some people abandon their goals and desires. Every woman's journey, however, is unique and always tough. As women enter the world of teenagers, young ladies, marriage, parenthood, and so on, it makes a significant turn. Stereotypes- Also, as Indian women, we are taught to sacrifice, suppress our emotions, and do what is best for the family. This belief, which is instilled in us from the beginning, is the reason why being a working woman or a working mother is so challenging. Moreover, we are taught that males are responsible for earning money, while women are responsible for nurturing the family, raising children, and caring for the elderly. Challenges During Pandemic- However, the pandemic resulted in a few previously unheard-of realizations and discoveries. When the lockdown was lifted and employees were allowed to return to work, we assumed it would be inconvenient for many of the women who were accustomed to working from home. It wasn't the case, much to our surprise and delight! Challenges after pandemic - Even after the pandemic, unequal caregiving distribution and a lack of company support have continued to be a hurdle for women at work.

• One method to alleviate the strain is to provide flexible work options, such as the opportunity to work remotely or have variable hours throughout the day.

• Another is to foster a culture of empathy and psychological safety where women can feel comfortable sharing their need to leave work early to take their children to the doctor.

Finally, what we can do is think about expanding parental leave or other childcare benefits so that everyone has the time they need to care for their children. Job stigma- Moreover, women's careers are complicated by the fact that they are unable to perform certain tasks. Many jobs are stigmatized as "a man thing" or "a woman thing" by the public. This is one of the aspects that makes it difficult for women to work on their own. In the workplace, women are frequently confronted with situations in which people expect them to fulfill duties other than their customary responsibilities. In some workplaces, co-workers may expect women to serve tea, clean, and open doors, among other things. Responsibilities: Even in modern times, when most women do work and have a professional life, the moment they return home from work, they magically transform from furious professionals to homemakers, concerned about the food that needs to be made, the kids, and whether the groceries are in order. Most men, on the other hand, enter homes and sit on sofas, watching their favorite shows. Equal rights - Women have been attempting to defy societal conventions and expectations. They have marched for equal rights and fought for their due place in society. True, the #MeToo movement has begun to dismantle centuries of patriarchy, but we still have a long way to go, particularly in the workplace, where the cliché "glass ceiling" still exists. Obstacles at workplace- Another issue faced by women in the workplace is that some individuals assume they are unfit for a position because "they are sensual." Some professionals believe that women lack managerial abilities because of this view, and they will occasionally try to hinder women from advancing in their careers. Physical security of women at workplace- Finally, and somewhat unsurprisingly, we must accept that physical security is a major factor in women's access to and transportation to work, especially for shift employment and night shifts. Taking steps to prevent and cure problems that women may face in the workplace is critical since these steps will make them happier, calmer, and more productive. But, to overcome these issues, what can we learn from women's collective experiences? Let us untangle these difficulties together so we can have the correct dialogue and find effective solutions. Challenges- To reiterate, Women still confront significant roadblocks and obstacles in their job, even though we've come a long way. Whether it is an underrepresentation of women in executive roles, lack of childcare support, harassment, or biased and discriminatory behavior, these issues are an ongoing occurrence for women across all industries and organizations around the world. To climb the career ladder and chase after our professional ambitions, we must first break the glass ceiling. By bringing awareness to these issues and educating others on them, we can continue to pave the way for future generations and create safe spaces for them to excel. Be part of the conversation! How can we combat these workplace issues? Share your thoughts with us! mHealth is AI-powered, community-based wellness platform for corporates. At mHealth, we help corporate personalize their wellness calendar, create focused groups, engage employees through stepathon challenges, teleconsultation, diet & nutrition consultation, mindfulness sessions, and other wellness programs.