Gender Disparity in Invisible Economy: Lessons from Indian Time Use Survey

In India, women's demographic and educational status has changed. However, in Indian society, women still experience discrimination within and outside the households. Within households, the gender division of labour on unpaid domestic works is highly skewed, and most household activities are still considered the primary responsibilities of women. The findings of the study reveal that in India, gender disparity exists in paid and unpaid domestic works, and its intensity is relatively higher in the latter form of activities. The gendered division of unpaid domestic works is one of the reasons of interstate difference gender disparity reported in India. In an economy, the burden of unpaid domestic works of women is influenced by the variables such as the basic characteristics of the population, accessibility and utilisation of basic infrastructure, which is closely associated with domestic household activities and social norms and patriarchal attitudes prevail in the society. In India these factors vary considerably across the states. Thus, women's participation and time use on unpaid domestic works also vary across states in India.