Mysore/Mysuru: ‘There is greater exploitation of women by putting extra pressure on the perpetrators. It has become difficult for her to maintain a work-life balance. Now, work-from-home has further forced her to give the best of both sides, leading to double drudgery,’ opined Dr. R. Indira, Eminent Sociologist, Member of the SDM-IMD Governing Board, and formerly Professor of Sociology, University of Mysore.

Dr. Indira was the resource person for the interactive session on ‘Women in Society, Family and Business’ held for the Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM) students of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDM-IMD) recently.

Highlighting women’s empowerment and their role in the management, Dr. Indira touched upon sensitive issues like domestic violence, gender equality, work-life balance, women’s harassment at work-place, etc.

Regarding gender empower-ment, Dr. Indira said it is more about a person’s sense of self-worth and ability to make their own decisions than another metric for separating men from women.

Regarding women’s roles in institutions and businesses, she claimed that it is prejudiced that women should only work in soft positions or behind the scenes, which is changing with time. Still, role expectations have remained static for a long time. As a result, it is critical for everyone in the institution to think differently about gender, and now is the appropriate time to educate and construct a gender-sensitive world, she opined.

The speaker sensitised the students on the subject and made them ponder whether successful women have always got their family’s support with a humble background or they are always working hard for it.