Abstract
Every chapter in this book contains stories and facts that paint a dark picture for women in leadership in India. But they also contain examples of people, policies, and practices where there is hope for the future. In this chapter, I first focused on the many reasons why women face barriers to leadership and why they face a significant pay gap compared with men. I also compared the situation in India with the situation faced by women in other countries, primarily the USA: parenthood, occupational choice, discrimination, and sex bias. I then presented some avenues that present hope for Indian women, though the journey will be difficult: enact new laws and enforce existing laws, focus on youth, equalize college major and occupational choice, develop negotiating skills, demand family-friendly benefits, let employer self-interest take its course, and change the culture. For the light to shine, it will require the commitment and work of men and women.
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McLean, G.N. (2018). From Darkness into Light: Hope for the Future of Women in Leadership in India. In: Ghosh, R., McLean, G. (eds) Indian Women in Leadership. Current Perspectives on Asian Women in Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68816-9_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68816-9_15
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