Women Empowerment: Liberty of Economic Decision among the Salaried Women

^1*Ram Pd. Chandra, ²Bhumika Sharma,³Archana Sethi

^1*Department of Economics, Govt. MLS PG College Seepat, (CG), India

² Department of Economics, K.L. Arts and Commerce College, Bagbahara (CG), India

³School of Studies in Economics, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur, C.G., India

Abstract: After the constitution of India came into force, such laws were made which gave equal rights to women. After independence, many schemes have been continuously made for women empowerment, whether it is to stop feticide, whether it is education or health related or security. Efforts are being made continuously for women and to bring them equal in every field. Researchers identified eight factors infusing of the present study; SPSS ‘version 20’ and Jamovi ‘version 2.2.2’ has been used for processing of the data and Independent T-test has been performed to test the relationship. T-test result shows that with marital status, MHB, RP, RV and DTV are statically significant at 5% level of significant (p-value < .05); but Know ATM password, DIA, ME and DJC are statically not significant at 5% level of significant (p-value > .05). T-test result shows that with Income level,  MHB, RP and RV are statically significant at 5% level of significant (p-value < .05); but Know ATM password, DIA, ME, DTV and DJC are statically not significant at 5% level of significant (p-value > .05). Study results find out that there is no significant difference between the liberty of economic decision of married and unmarried, low income level and high income level salaried woman. It is clear that women need to get more aware for regarding economic decisions.

Keywords: Women Empowerment; Economic liberty; Economic Decision; Salaried women; Income level;

1.     Introduction

We know that any section of the society is left behind, and then we try to empower it! God created the soul and divided it into two categories, male and female, the two characteristics that have to be used to move the creation forward. It was divided into two categories on the basis of need; they were formed as a complement to each other. Work was divided, on the basis of physical characteristics; more labour and more hazardous work were kept for men and house work for women. An important reason for this must have been because woman was also a mother in ancient times all over the world.  This was almost the same situation. If we look at the history of India, it is completely clear that in the pre-vedic period, the position of women was very high in the society, in every field in the society, then in all areas political, religious, economic or social, about the strength and intelligence of women. There was no doubt. But in the later vedic period, due to many customs, evils, social, political and religious factors, the condition of women deteriorated and she joined such a section of the society which was in need of salvation. Before and after independence, many such laws were made which played a special role in strengthening the status of women. After the constitution of India came into force, such laws were made which gave equal rights to women. After independence, many schemes have been continuously made for women empowerment, whether it is to stop feticide, whether it is education or health related or security. Efforts are being made continuously for women and to bring them equal in every field. The result is that women have become more educated and capable than before, the mind-set of the people in the society is changing for them.  Are working side by side with men in the field but is there any drawback? Is there real empowerment in working in every field, looking financially independent? Is there financial freedom, employment freedom to make their decisions? Affects freedom? This is a serious question still emerging in the mind!

1.1.      Review of Literature

The crime against women fly directly against orchestrating women empowerment in India, according to this research paper women are deprived of decision making power, freedom of movement ,access to education, access to employment, express to media etc.^[7]. Women empowerment is not merely a slogan but a prerequisite for an optimist capacity for overall development of a family, society nation and sustainable world. The paper has covered about affirmative legislation and programmes initiated by the government ^{[2, 3-4 and 8-9]}. Empowerment is analysis based on responses regarding decision making. The man only responders in the individual survey are including. When it comes to decision on the use of income men clearly have the greater role than women ^[5]. As women constitute almost one half of India’s. Population, without their engagement and empowerment, rapid economic progress is out of the question for economic growth to be really inclusive; women empowerment is of almost value. It is crucial for achieving sustainable economic development of our country and even beyond ^{[1, 6, and 10].}

1.2.      Objectives of the Study

1.     To study the liberty of economic decision of salaried woman.

2.     To find out whether there is any difference between the liberty of economic decision of married and unmarried salaried woman.

3.     To study whether there is any difference between the liberty of economic decision of low level income and high level income salaried woman.

2.     Methodology

The study based on primary data and google form used for the data collection; and collected the sample size 75 respondents. Researchers identified eight factors influencing of the study; and identified factors (DV) are marital status, Income level; and (IDV) are make home budget, personal bank account, ATM card & know of ATM password, decision of investment anywhere, money expend, decide travel voluntarily and decision of job change; and researchers used 5 point likert scale point, where 5 is strongly agree and 1 is very strongly disagree. SPSS ‘version 20’ and Jamovi ‘version 2.2.2’ has been used for processing of the data and Independent T-test has been performed to test the relationship; and constructed are following the null hypotheses:

1.     H₀₁: There is no significant difference between liberty of economic decision of married and unmarried salaried woman.

2.     H₀₂: There is no significant difference between the liberty of economic decision of low income level and high income level salaried woman.

Table 1: Variable defined for the study of liberty of economic decision.

3.     Data Analysis

Table 2: Descriptive Statistics of the variables

Table 3: Testing of the Hypothesis (Independent T-test)

3.1.       Interpretation and Discussion

Respondents are two groups married and un-married considered. Table 2 presents that descriptive statistics of research variables. In term of age distribution, respondents extreme are 42.7% in age group 30-40 and least are 9.3% in Above-50 age groups; respondent age group mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 2.21, .104, 2.0, 2, and .905. It is clear that there has been a tremendous response from age group 30-40. Marital Status of respondent, in term of marital status distribution, respondents extreme are 68.0% in married and least are 32.0% in Un-married; marital status mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.32, .054, 1.0, 1 and .470. It is clear that highly respondent are married. Family types of respondent, in term of family types distribution, respondents extreme are 56.0% in nuclear family and least are 44.0% in joint family; family type mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.56, .058, 2.0, 2 and .500. It is clear that highly respondent are prefer to the nuclear family. Education distribution of respondent; In term of education distribution, respondents extreme are 66.7% in PG level; moderate are 26.7% in M. phil./Ph.D. and least 1.3% high school level educated; education mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 4.25, .078, 4.0, 4 and .680. It is clear that maximum respondents are highly educated. Occupation distribution of the respondent; In term of occupation distribution, respondents extreme are 57.3% in government employee; moderate are 20.0% in Private employee and least 9.3% semi-government; Occupation mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.89, .132, 1.0, 1 and 1.146. It is clear that maximum respondent is government employee. Income level distribution of the respondent; In term of income level distribution, respondents extreme are 41.3% in 500000-1000000; moderate are 40.0% in 0-250000 and least 6.7% belong to upper-1000000 income level; income level  mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 2.15, .120, 2.0, 3 and 1.036. It is clear that maximum respondent are belong to middle class income level. Place of job distribution of the respondent; In term of job area distribution, respondents extreme are 62.7% in urban area; least are 37.3% in rural area; place of job mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.37, .056, 1.0, 1 and .487. It is clear that maximum respondents job place in urban area.

Make home budget (MHB) distribution of the respondent; in term of MHB distribution, respondents extreme are 70.7% in agree and least 29.3% in disagree; MHB mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.29, .029, 1.0, 1 and .458. It is clear that high respondent are agree for make his home budget. Registered Property in your name (RP) distribution of the respondent; in term of RP distribution, respondents extreme are 60.0% in disagree and least 40.0% in agree response; RP mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.60, .057, 2.0, 2 and .493. It is clear that highly respondent are disagree for Registered Property in your name. Registered vehicle in your name (RV) distribution of the respondent; in term of RV distribution, respondents extreme are 82.7% in strongly disagree and least 17.3% respondent in agree for RV; RV mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.17, .044, 1.0, 1 and .381. It is clear that max respondent are disagree for registered vehicle in your name. Type of vehicle (Two/Four) distribution of the respondent; In term of types of vehicle distribution, respondents extreme are 60.0% in agree for four vehicle, moderate are 22.7% in agree for two vehicle and least 17.3% respondent in disagree for types of vehicle; Type of vehicle mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.05, .073, 1.0, 1 and .634. It is clear that respondent are highly agree for Types of vehicle. Personal bank account (PBA) distribution of the respondent; in term of PBA distribution, respondents are 100.0% agree for Personal bank account. PBA mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.00, .000, 1, 1.0 and .000. It is clear that all respondent opened are Personal bank account. ATM card distribution of the respondent; in term of ATM card distribution, respondents are 100.0% agree for Personal bank account. ATM card mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.00, .000, 1, 1.0 and .000. It is clear that all respondent opened are Personal bank account. Know of ATM  passwords (KATMP) distribution of the respondent; In term of KATMP distribution, respondents extreme are 48.0% in only me, moderate 34.7% in my husband and least 17.3% in Others (Brother and fathers). KATMP mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.69, .087, 2.0, 1 and .753. It is clear that highly respondent are not Know of ATM password. Decision of invest anywhere (DIA), distribution of the respondent; in term of DIA distribution, respondents extreme are 34.7% in strongly disagree and least 13.3% in disagree. DIA mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 2.37, .131, 2.0, 2 and 1.136. It is clear that high respondent are strongly disagree for DIA. Money expend (ME), distribution of the respondent; in term of ME distribution, respondents extreme are 57.3% in very strongly agree and least 6.7% in agree. ME mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 1.77, .116, 1.0, 1 and 1.008. It is clear that maximum respondent is very strongly agreed for ME. Decide travel voluntarily (DTV), distribution of the respondent; in term of DTV distribution, respondents extreme are 32.0% very strongly disagreeing and least 2.7% strongly disagree. DTV mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 3.04, .188, 3.0, 1 and 1.631. It is clear that maximum respondent are very strongly disagree for DTV. Decision of job change (DJC), distribution of the respondent; in term of DJC distribution, respondents extreme are 49.3% very strongly disagreeing and least 2.7% strongly disagree. DJC mean, SE, median, mode and SD of respectively 2.29, .167, 2.0, 1 and 1.450. It is clear that maximum respondent are very strongly disagree for DJC.

Figure 1. Shows that marital status and know the ATM password and it is clear that most married women's do not know ATM password.

Figure 2. Shows that marital status and decision of invest anywhere and it is clear that mostly married and un-married woman not free to make investment decisions anywhere.

Figure 3. Shows that income level and know the ATM password and it is clear that most married women's do not know ATM password.

Figure 4. Shows that income level and decision of invest anywhere and it is clear that mostly married and un-married woman not free to make investment decisions anywhere.

3.2.       Result Analysis and Hypotheses Testing

3.2.1.   Alternative hypotheses

1.   H₁: There is a significant difference between liberty of economic decision of married and unmarried salaried woman.

2.   H₂: There is a significant difference between the liberty of economic decision of low Income level and high Income level salaried woman.

Table 3 presents that Independent sample t-test, where IDV is marital status; and  independent sample t-test result shows that MHB (t-value = -4.929, p-value = .000*), RP (t-value = -2.380, p-value = .020*), RV (t-value = 2.099, p-value = .039*) and DTV (t-value = -3.415, p-value = .001*) are statically significant at 5% level of significant (p-value < .05); but Know ATM password (t-value = -1.106, p-value = .272**), DIA (t-value = -0.009, p-value = .993**), ME (t-value = 1.629, p-value = .108**) and DJC (t-value = 1.737, p-value = .087**) are statically not significant at 5% level of significant (p-value > .05). Hence the null hypotheses (H₀₁) is rejected in make home budget, registered property, registered vehicles and decide travel voluntarily; and accepted the alternative hypotheses (H₁). But the null hypotheses (H₀₁) is accepted in know ATM password, DIA, ME and DJC. It is clear that there are a significant difference between MHB, RP, RV and DTV of married and unmarried salaried women. But there are no significant difference between Know ATM passwords, DIA, ME and DJC of married and unmarried salaried women.

Table 3 presents that Independent sample t-test, where IDV is income level; and  independent sample t-test result shows that MHB (t-value = 3.559, p-value = .001*), RP (t-value = -5.242, p-value = .000*) and RV (t-value = 2.676, p-value = .009*) are statically significant at 5% level of significant (p-value < .05); but Know ATM password (t-value = .908, p-value = .367**), DIA (t-value = -.113, p-value = .910**), ME (t-value = -.954, p-value = .393**), DTV (t-value = -1.940, p-value = .056**) and DJC (t-value = -1.518, p-value = .133**) are statically not significant at 5% level of significant (p-value > .05). Hence the null hypotheses (H₀₂) is rejected and accepted the alternative hypotheses (H₂) in make home budget (MHB), registered property (RP) and registered vehicles (RV). But the null hypotheses (H₀₂) is accepted in know ATM password, DIA, ME, DTV and DJC. It is clear that there are a significant difference between MHB, RP and RV of high and lower income level salaried women; but there are no significant difference between Know ATM password, DIA, ME, DTV and DJC of high and lower income salaried women.

4.     Conclusion

On the basis of the above study conclude that, although women are standing on their own feet and earning income but there are some points at which they are still not free to take economic decisions. From the study we learned that 71 percent women are free to make their own budget, but women are not free to make decisions when it comes to investing and changing jobs. The most surprising thing is that more than 50 percent of women have access to their ATMs, but don’t even know the password. In our study, we divided women into two categories on the basis of first marital status (married and unmarried) and second income level (low income level and high income level) and tried to know their economic decision-making ability and found that although in making household budget, investing in property, spending Comparatively married women are more independent but unmarried women are more free than married women in terms of travel decisions, knowing ATM passwords and getting vehicles. Sadly! Most married and high income women own ATM cards, but don't know the ATM passwords; and women earning higher incomes are comparatively don't free to change jobs and spend. It is clear that women need to get more aware for regarding economic decisions.

References

1. Devi, Rama (2017). Gender equality women empowerment, Global Journal for research analysis, Vol. 6, issue 9, Sep. 8160.
2. Kabeer, N. (1999). Resources, agency, achievements: reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment, Development and Change 30(3), pg. 435–64.
3. Lucia, Hanmer & Jeni, Klugman (2016). Exploring Women's Agency and Empowerment in Developing Countries: Where do we stand?, Feminist Economics, 22(1), pg. 237-263.
4. Mabsout, R. (2011). Capability and Health Functioning in Ethiopian Households, Social Indicators Research, Vol. 101, Issue 3, pp. 359-389.
5. Milla, Sell and Nicholas, Minot (2018). What factors explain women empowerment? Decision making among small scale farmers in ugonda, Women studies International foreign, 71, pp- 46-55. 
6. Nagaraja, B. (2013). Empowerment of women in India: A Critical Analysis, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Volume 9, Issue 2.
7. Rajeshwari and  shettor, M. (2015). A issues a challenges of women empowerment in India, IOSR Journal of Business & management, Volume-17, Issue- 4, April, pp 13-15.
8. Singh, Seema and Singh, Mantra (2020).Women empowerment in India- A Critical analysis, Tathapi, vol. 191, issue 44, june.
9. Tomar N. and Singh S. (2018). How sensitive is the Indian Government towards women empowerment in India, International Journal of Management, 08 (07), pp 66-83.
10. Varghese, Manoj, Guha, Sourabh, Agarwal Anuraag (2016). Scenario of women empowerment in 2016: Its role in Indian economy and business, International Journal of Recent Trends in Engineering & Research, Volume 02, Issue 11.