Women in Labour

How has the depiction of work changed in popular culture over time? Traditionally, how have women been portrayed in Indian movies vis-a-vis work and careers? Christina and Aditi sit down with award-winning long form journalist, Sohini Chattopadhyay to understand how Bollywood has traditionally depicted India’s women in labour. And whether this depiction is evolving—or devolving. With special guest, Sohini Chattopadhyay Sohini Chattopadhyay is an award-winning long form journalist who has written for publications all over the world. She writes a column on women in film for Film Companion She has won the Bala Kailasam citation for reporting on the web in 2017, the Ramnath Goenka award for feature writing in 2015 and the 2014 International Red Cross and Press Institute of India prize for humanitarian reporting. In 2015, she was one of only four nominees to be shortlisted for the prestigious ACJ Investigative Journalism Prize. She was also the recipient of the Robert Bosch media fellowship in Munich in 2017, an Asia Journalism Fellowship winner in Singapore in 2016, and a Chevening journalism fellow in London in 2015. MORE TO READ. This 2020 FilmCompanion piece by Sohini on female directors telling women’s stories: https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/bollywood-features/panga-and-chhapaak-what-happens-when-women-tell-womens-stories/ This FilmCompanion piece by Sohini on Bollywood’s portrayal of women in the year 2019: https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/bollywood-features/women-in-bollywood-in-2019-the-good-disappointing-and-ridiculous/ This 2019 LiveMint piece by Sohini about Bollywood and jobs: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/full-time-romantics-in-a-nation-of-job-seekers-1549567469480.html This 2018 LiveMint piece by Sohini looking at Bollywood’s depiction of women’s aspirations: https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/gW0RmkMUb27QUducQZaLIL/Why-dont-these-girls-work.html This 2017 LiveMint piece by Sohini, about professional identity and class/privilege in movies: https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/TcVedrnJxqu6b1ylDr6D0I/The-class-of-Kaira-Shyra-and-Shanaya-in-Bollywood.html This 2015 report titled ‘Cinema in Society: Shaping Our Worldview Beyond the Lens – Indian Films’: https://seejane.org/wp-content/uploads/cinema-and-society-investigation-of-the-impact-on-gender-representation-in-indian-films.pdf MORE TO WATCH. The Anupama Chopra interview with Sooraj Barjatya referenced in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_adyBoMeQA A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

We couldn’t not address it. The elephant in the room, or rather, the virus in the air. Releasing more than two months since India went into lockdown to contain the novel Coronavirus, this episode of Women in Labour was recorded entirely remotely. This is a slice-of-life perspective on how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of some of India’s working women. With special guests: Kripi Malviya, psychologist and co-founder TATVA center in Goa Devli Bai, Ramli Bai, and Mirki Bai — together with Shram Sarathi and Aajeevika Bureau, we were able to hear from a few women from migrant households about how their lives have been impacted during COVID-19. Ritu Dewan, economist and Vice President of the Indian Society of Labour Economics Mayanti Langer, award-winning sports journalist and cricket presenter Ashu Haldwani, Owner, Get Gorgeous Salon Sahiba Singh Dhupar, Image consultant and body positivity activist MORE TO READ/WATCH. This UN report on mental health and COVID-19: https://in.one.un.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Policy-Brief-COVID-and-mental-health.pdf This TheSwaddle piece about the pandemic-productivity narrative: https://theswaddle.com/people-are-using-pandemic-productivity-as-a-distraction-from-grief-vulnerability/ This Aajeevika Bureau panel on the launch of ‘Unlocking the Urban: Reimagining Migrant Lives in Cities Post-COVID 19’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwHqZvQLUEA&feature=youtu.be This PARI Network coverage series titled ‘Covering the human cost of COVID-19’ https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/covering-the-human-cost-of-covid-19/ This piece in the ET about migrant security: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/view-why-the-issue-of-migrant-security-should-be-a-top-priority-in-indias-covid-response/articleshow/75054748.cms?from=mdr This EPW Engage piece by Dr. Ashwini Deshpande: https://www.epw.in/engage/article/what-does-work-home-mean-women#.Xs9lqqWSaR4.twitter This WEF article about COVID-19 and the world of sports: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/sports-covid19-coronavirus-excersise-specators-media-coverage/ This interview with Mithali Raj on sports, gender, and COVID-19: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/not-just-womens-cricket-every-athletes-momentum-is-broken-because-of-covid-19-mithali-raj/articleshow/75689724.cms This IndiaToday article about the salon industry: https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/the-new-face-of-beauty-1673537-2020-05-02 This IndianExpress article about beauty salons post-lockdown: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/post-lockdown-beauty-salons-consider-hygiene-protocols-online-sessions-to-recoup-6410985/ This UN report about promoting positive gender roles: https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/covid-19-promoting-positive-gender-roles-in-marketing-and-advertising-en.pdf?la=en&vs=4550 This UNWomen blog about shifting gender norms during COVID-19: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2020/04/how-men-can-help-shift-gender-norms-during-covid-19-crisis-heforshe A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

We couldn’t not address it. The elephant in the room, or rather, the virus in the air. Releasing more than two months since India went into lockdown to contain the novel Coronavirus, this episode of Women in Labour was recorded entirely remotely. This is a slice-of-life perspective on how COVID-19 has impacted the lives of some of India’s working women. With special guests: Pooja Dhingra, pastry chef, entrepreneur, and author. Diya Kapoor, Yoga instructor, mother of two and now at-home school teacher Sunetra Choudhury, Political Editor at Hindustan Times Gulesh Chauhan, Uber driver MORE TO READ/WATCH. This Indian Express article about restaurants and COVID-19: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/restaurants-after-covid-19-hospitality-industry-6412388/ This CNTraveller article by Pooja: https://www.cntraveller.in/story/pooja-dhingra-closes-south-mumbai-le15-cafe-restaurant-colaba-coronavirus-lockdown/ This ThePrint discussion about COVID-19 and education in India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVM3_0_nKSI This Brookings piece about COVID-19 and education in India: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2020/05/14/covid-19-in-india-education-disrupted-and-lessons-learned/ This TheWire article about newspaper delivery amid the lockdown: https://thewire.in/media/print-newspapers-coronavirus-salaries Sunetra’s dispatches on COVID-19 on Twitter, and in this Youtube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9wl9ZX1TMB7vGapIp6OkWVrH-aRh0oZZ This MoneyControl article about cab aggregators and COVID-19: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/lack-of-demand-virus-scare-keep-ola-uber-drivers-off-the-road-5322851.html This ORF piece on gender and the gig economy: https://www.orfonline.org/research/gender-and-the-gig-economy-a-qualitative-study-of-gig-platforms-for-women-workers-65948/ A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Our next guest, Ira Singhal was prevented from joining the civil services because of discrimination against her disability. She contested the case, and then went on to earn the highest score in the country for the civil service exam. Today, she serves in the country’s Indian Administrative Services (IAS). In line with her purpose of helping and enabling others, the role allows Ira to create opportunities for others, to empower others. With special guest Ira Singhal Ira Singhal is the first Person with Disability to top the prestigious Civil Services Examination, 2014. She currently serves as D.C. of Keshavpuram Zone in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, and is the Brand Ambassador for the Department of Disability, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. She is also a brand ambassador for Niti Ayog and is on the National Panel for Accessible Elections, Election Commission of India. She has won a number of awards, including India Today’s Woman of the Year 2015, President’s Gold Medal for Topping the IAS Training, and the First Ladies of India Award by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Ira is also recorded in the Limca Book of Records. She has been a speaker on wide ranging issues like education, disability, Gender issues, skill development, and career counselling at more than 500 international and national conferences, industry forums, universities, colleges, and other top institutions of the country MORE TO READ. This NDTV article: https://www.ndtv.com/jobs/upsc-cse-number-of-women-joining-civil-services-is-less-than-25-2196839 This 2019 ThePrint article: https://theprint.in/opinion/understand-disability-mussoorie-academys-civil-servant-trainees-blindfolded-themselves/300759/ This 2019 HT article: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/north-mcd-installs-plastic-bottle-flaking-machines-in-karol-bagh/story-T55ah2AQdiRcqkvT2KiBsN.html This 2015 ET article: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ira-singhals-journey-to-the-top-of-the-upsc-heap-is-a-signal-of-hope-for-every-disabled-person-battling-the-odds/articleshow/50335561.cms?from=mdr MORE TO WATCH. This 2019 TEDx talk by Ira titled ‘The Role of Women as Future Leaders’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrHlE5NEtvw This 2018 TEDx talk by Nipun Malhotra titled ‘Disability and India’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzgsQTUQ-Fw This 2017 interview with Ira: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxV7_vAltRE A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

As the founder of SHEROES, a women-only social network, Sairee Chahal discusses the many ways in which leveraging shared platforms and community networks can open up the future of work to India's aspirational women. With special guest Sairee Chahal Sairee Chahal is Founder and CEO of SHEROES – the world’s largest online ecosystem for women. She is on the Board of Directors of Paytm Payments Bank. The SHEROES Network is home to the SHEROES app; Babygogo, a platform to support young mothers’; Maya, a global reproductive health platform and remote work product MARS. The network has a national and global footprint of 16 million women. Sairee is a Fellow of the Ananta Aspen’s Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship and a member of Aspen Global Leadership Network. She is also a recipient of the Devi Award, Femina Achievers Award, Editor's choice for L'Oreal, Femina Women's Award and Business Today, Most Powerful Women in Indian Business, and a Cartier Award Alumni. In 2018, SHEROES was awarded in the "Social & Economic Empowerment" category at the IAMAI Digital Awards. MORE TO READ. This 2020 Forbes India article: https://www.forbesindia.com/article/self-made-women-2020/gig-economy-helps-india039s-women-workers-gain-financial-independence/57945/1 Sairee on jobs of the future: https://qz.com/india/1800366/sairee-chahal-on-the-jobs-that-will-define-indias-future/ This essay by Dr. Urvashi Aneja of Tandem Research: https://tandemresearch.org/publications/field-guide-to-the-future-of-work-a-view-from-india This 2020 ORF commentary: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-future-of-work-embracing-informality-60680/ This 2020 TheWire article: https://thewire.in/business/covid-19-lockdown-delivery-gig-workers This 2019 FES report: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/indien/15719.pdf This 2018 ORF Special Report: https://www.orfonline.org/research/a-new-social-contract-for-the-digital-age-46019/ This 2017 ICRIER report: http://icrier.org/pdf/Online_Freelancing%20_ICRIER.pdf MORE TO WATCH. This 2019 interview with Sairee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_4F7Mo8_zI This 2018 interview with Sairee (in Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ls3AIH22dY Sairee’s 2012 TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kNy7wsMuyU A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

After the untimely demise of her husband, Gulesh Chauhan struggled to keep her family afloat. An unlikely lifeline, working with Uber as a full-time driver, led her down the road to recovery. And to professional satisfaction. The cab driver with a record number of 5-star trips, Gulesh ji talks about the speed breakers along the way, moments of triumph, and the way forward. With special guest Gulesh Chauhan Gulesh Chauhan is currently a full-time driver for app-based taxi service Uber in the Delhi NCR region. She is one of Uber India’s highest-rated driver-partners and among the country’s first women Uber drivers. Her story has been widely covered in the national press including in outlets such as Elle, the DailyO, and SheThePeople, among others. She has also told her story, in her own words, on platforms like Josh Talks and the Youth Ki Aawaz Summit. MORE TO READ. This 2019 HerStory Article: https://yourstory.com/herstory/2019/04/professional-women-drivers-mobility-employment This 2019 Scroll piece by Dr. Shilpa Phadke: https://scroll.in/article/926148/mere-populism-kejriwal-plan-to-make-transport-free-for-delhi-women-could-actually-transform-city This 2019 Indian Express article: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-government-to-appoint-women-drivers-in-government-5924629/ This 2019 ORF special report: https://www.orfonline.org/research/rewriting-the-rules-women-and-work-in-india-47584/ This 2018 TOI article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/no-ban-but-plenty-of-bias-why-so-few-women-drive-in-india/articleshow/64809217.cms This 2017 HuffPost article: https://www.huffingtonpost.in/the-vedica-diaries/drivers-wanted-in-india-but-women-need-not-apply_a_23156584/ MORE TO LISTEN TO. This episode of The Ride Share Guy podcast: https://therideshareguy.com/rsg025-whats-it-like-to-be-a-female-uber-driver-with-tiffany-hudson-stroup/ MORE TO WATCH. This Josh Talks video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh6VKyGVL4Q A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

If India is to continue to grow its economy, it needs to involve the country’s women, according to economist and public policy analyst Devika Kher. You see, ambitious growth just isn't possible with half the population at home. In this episode, Kher breaks down the u-curve, one of the most important theories to understand the drop in women's participation in the workforce, in less than 30 minutes. With special guest Devika Kher Devika is currently a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy (Class of 21). Before joining Harris, she worked at The Takshashila Institution, an independent policy think tank in Bangalore, India for five years. Her work focuses on studying the interaction between labour and urban governance challenges. Devika has worked extensively on the declining female labour employment in India and urban governance challenges within developing countries. Devika has been a regular contributor to renowned national dailies, a contributing author for multiple books, and has co-authored papers on public expenditure on health in India. MORE TO READ. Devika’s writing in Pragati Express: https://express.thinkpragati.com/author/devikakher/ This 2019 TheWire article by Devika: https://thewire.in/labour/why-having-more-women-in-the-workforce-is-good-for-the-economy This 2019 Deccan Herald article by Devika: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/in-perspective/get-the-women-into-the-workforce-741013.html This 2018 Takshashila Institution article by Devika, on ‘pink collar’ jobs: https://nationalinterest.in/breaking-gender-barriers-in-jobs-346662dab3a9 This 2018 Takshashila Institution article by Devika on social impediments to women’s employment: https://nationalinterest.in/social-shackles-and-women-employment-b6f26d5fbef5 This 2018 Pragati article by Devika: https://www.thinkpragati.com/opinion/4455/frailty-thy-name-is-public-policy/ Claudia Goldin’s seminal paper on the ‘U’ curve (1994): https://www.nber.org/papers/w4707.pdf MORE TO LISTEN TO. Devika on Ep. 88 of ‘The Seen and the Unseen’ podcast: https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2018/10/1/episode-88-metrics-of-empowerment/ Devika on Ep. 16 of the ‘States of Anarchy’ podcast: https://ivmpodcasts.com/states-of-anarchy-episode-list/tag/devika+kher A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

“Movies where women's issues are discussed become referendums on the issue: should women work or not? Should women be attacked or not? They're never about women's lives.” In this episode of Women in Labour, filmmaker, Paromita Vohra talks about adopting a narrative that is independent of the patriarchy. And of deciding for ourselves who we are and who we want to be. With special guest Paromita Vohra: Paromita Vohra is a filmmaker, writer, and dedicated antakshari player, whose work explores urban life, popular culture, love, desire, and feminism. She is the founder and creative director of Agents of Ishq, India’s best-loved website about sex and desire. She has directed the path-making films Partners in Crime, Morality TV and the Loving Jehad, Q2P, Where’s Sandra, Cosmopolis: Two Tales of a City, Un-limited Girls, and The Consent Lavani among others, and the television series Connected Hum Tum, written the feature Khamosh Pani, the play Ishqiya Dharavi Ishtyle, and the comic Priya’s Mirror. Her fiction and non-fiction writing has been widely published and she writes a weekly opinion column Paronormal Activity in the Sunday Midday. MORE TO READ. This 2018 TARSHI interview (in two parts) with Paromita: http://www.tarshi.net/inplainspeak/interview-paromita-vohra/ This ‘The Spool’ interview with Paromita: https://thespool.in/paromita-vohra/ Paromita’s column ‘Paronormal Activity’ in the Mid-day: https://www.mid-day.com/search/paromita-vohra-articles MORE TO LISTEN. Episode 155 of Amit Varma’s The Seen and The Unseen with Paromita: https://seenunseen.in/episodes/2020/1/13/episode-155-films-feminism-paromita/ Episode 133 of The Sandip Roy show podcast by Indian Express: https://indianexpress.com/audio/the-sandip-roy-show/sex-and-other-pleasures-a-chat-with-paromita-vohra/6016935/ MORE TO WATCH. ‘Unlimited Girls’: https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/452/Unlimited-Girls Agents of Ishq’s ‘Aika to the Baika: Police Complaint Lavani’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9doWA12B_U A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

India’s Female Labour Force Participation rate is at an all-time low across industries except for one—garment manufacturing. In fact, the garment sector is made up of more than 50% women workers and is a critical driver of job creation for women. But at the same time it is an industry rife with difficulties and has perhaps the furthest to go in ensuring that women are truly empowered, respected and able to rise. This is a challenge our guest, Anant Ahuja, knows only too well. In this episode he talks to us about the challenges of trying to transform an old industry from the inside out by exploring ways to redesign the working experience to better support and empower female workers. But, as Anant says: “I think this idea of creating high quality jobs is not that easy, no matter who you're creating it for. I think there's a lot of areas to improve on, and yeah I think there's a lot of work left for us to do.” With special guest Anant Ahuja Anant Ahuja is the Head of Organisational Development (OD) at Shahi, India’s largest apparel manufacturer employing over 100,000 people. Since 2012, Anant has been spearheading positive change across the business through innovation and strategy to align the company’s growth with the development of people, community, and the environment. He has spoken about business and human rights at the United Nations and on women’s empowerment at Women Deliver. He believes that the private sector is a critical lever for development, which led him to start Good Business Lab (GBL), a labour innovation start-up that uses research to find common ground between worker wellbeing and business interests. Through his work at Shahi and GBL, Anant wants to change the way businesses operate. MORE TO READ. The Good Business Lab’s projects: https://www.goodbusinesslab.org/projects ‘From the Shop Floor and Beyond’ — Shahi Exports’ Blog: http://www.shahi.co.in/blog/ This 2018 IndiaSpend article: https://archive.indiaspend.com/cover-story/3-in-4-indian-women-dont-work-can-skilling-and-guaranteed-jobs-change-that-38932 This 2018 NPR article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/07/23/629871725/why-a-drop-of-4-degrees-made-a-big-difference-for-a-garment-makers-bottom-line This 2017 article about the Good Business Lab: https://networkcapital.co/2017/10/07/network-capital-member-anant-ahuja-social-startup-incentivizing-businesses-invest-worker-welfare/ This 2017 interview with Anant: https://www.teaandwater.co/insights/perspectives/conversation-with-anant-ahuja/ This 2017 article in the HBR: https://hbr.org/2017/07/an-experiment-in-india-shows-how-much-companies-have-to-gain-by-investing-in-their-employees MORE TO WATCH. This 2019 GBL Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZbPE0HTbnY This 2018 EdBrand interview with Anant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Uxx3hioJoUs&feature=emb_logo UPDATE: This description has been updated to acknowledge important human rights allegations at one of Shahi’s factories in 2018. We believe in absolute transparency. Below is some more information. The original report and the resolution that was reached: https://www.workersrights.org/factory-investigation/shahi-exports-pvt-ltd/ Shahi’s response to the allegation: http://www.shahi.co.in/blog/?p=697 A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Joined by Women in Labour’s Creative Producer, Nandita Gupta, Aditi Mittal speaks to Khushboo and Pooja about the importance of creches for working mothers. The sisters-in-law share deeply personal anecdotes about their journeys—from being confined to the house to finding new purpose in their work outside. All thanks to the friendly neighborhood creche. With special guests Pooja and Khushboo: Pooja works as an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker. Khushboo works as a primary school teacher. Both their children go to a mobile crèche service center in North Delhi. MORE TO READ. This 2019 IndiaSpend article: https://www.indiaspend.com/government-cuts-funding-to-national-creche-scheme-crippling-lifeline-for-poor-working-mothers/ This 2019 The Swaddle article: https://theswaddle.com/inadequate-government-child-care-schemes-stall-indias-economic-progress/ This 2018 Scroll article: https://scroll.in/article/905727/as-india-rethinks-labour-rules-one-item-not-on-the-agenda-childcare-facilities-for-women-workers The MWCD’s National Minimum Guidelines for setting up crèches under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: https://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/National%20Minimum%20Guidelines.pdf This project, which is examining the outcomes of affordable daycare in India: https://ifmrlead.org/affordable-day-care-to-empower-indian-women/ This 2015 Scroll article: https://scroll.in/article/759498/indias-women-need-creches-and-community-centres-not-quotas-to-join-the-workforce MORE TO WATCH. This 2020 TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4I986o5n4U This 2013 IDS video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdIkXrxqsCk A BIG THANKS Women In Labour is generously supported by a grant from the American Center, New Delhi. All opinions, findings, and conclusions are those of Women In Labour and its hosts only — and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.