Women Participation in Business: A Socio-Legal Perspective from Human Rights Discourse towards Women Empowerment and Gender Gap in India

Abstract

Women are everywhere, in all sorts of activities in society. Their presence is being felt with a strong message that the 21st century belongs to women. Even this strong presence of women can be easily scrutinized with the numbers of women present and working in business activities in India, which are much lower than expected. This paper is dedicated to the study of women and their participation in business activities in India, where they are subject to various kinds of social limitations. Though laws have been made for their protection, how far they are protected and promoted to take part in business activities leads them to financial independence and ultimately to their empowerment. The human rights of women are always looked at as the rights of a vulnerable group of society, but they have yet to receive their due share. What stops them from getting their due share? The social norms, unsafe workplaces, complex laws and attitude of the justice system towards women are some of the issues that create hurdles in the path of women's empowerment and financial independence in Indian society. This paper deals with social issues, competent laws and human rights norms regarding women's participation in business activities in India. In this paper the researcher will try to find out the possible solutions to the problems faced by women regarding their human rights protection and participation in business activities in India.