A recent research study conducted in India has revealed a significant correlation between women's formal employment and the occupational status of their mothers-in-law. The State of Working India 2023 report, recently published by Azim Premji University, has unveiled that in urban settings, when the mother-in-law is gainfully employed, there is a remarkable 70 per cent surge in the likelihood of daughters-in-law seeking formal employment. This figure is somewhat lower, but still substantial, in rural areas, where daughters-in-law become 50 per cent more inclined to join the workforce if their mother-in-law holds a job.
The dynamics between mothers-in-law and younger Indian women are complex and multifaceted. In the traditional framework of Indian marriages, where women typically move into their husband's family, the role of the mother-in-law is of paramount significance. These elder figures are often either highly respected or, in some cases, feared by the younger women. The report underscores that gender norms, further magnified by a potent intergenerational impact, exert a profound influence on the choices and opportunities available to Indian women, who form a substantial segment of the potential labour force.
Furthermore, the report sheds light on the fact that the pandemic has driven more women towards self-employment. Prior to the pandemic, 50 per cent of women were self-employed. However, this figure has increased to 60 per cent.