SUMMARY of the Article “A Caring Economy,” by Samia Liaquat Ali Khan, Dawn, July 25th, 2024

The article “A Caring Economy” by Samia Liaquat Ali Khan, published in Dawn on July 25th, 2024, addresses the disproportionate burden of caregiving placed on women and its impact on their participation in the labor force, particularly in South Asia. The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report highlights how this imbalance caused female labor force participation rates to drop during and immediately after the Covid pandemic, with only recent improvements. Research by the World Bank indicates that extended maternity leave often leads to women not returning to work, while extended paternity leave for men positively influences women’s re-entry into the labor market. In Pakistan, many companies are hesitant to employ women due to perceived short-term financial costs and the need for ‘special’ treatment in a male-dominated environment. Women face numerous barriers to entering and staying in the workforce, including discriminatory job advertisements and interview practices, societal expectations regarding marriage and motherhood, and lack of support at home. As a result, women often leave the workforce, leading to a significant gender disparity in senior management positions. The article argues that societal perceptions of gender roles need fundamental reconfiguration, emphasizing the undervalued but crucial nature of care work. Economists Naila Kabeer and Nancy Folbre have highlighted the economic productivity of care work, which enhances human capabilities but is poorly compensated. The article suggests rewarding men for caregiving roles and providing better economic opportunities for women. Policies like flexible work hours, child care options, mandated paternity leave, and encouraging men’s involvement in caregiving are » Read More…