Shifting Work Arrangements for Women: A Review on Full-Time Work to Gig Work

Shifting Work Arrangements for Women: A Review on Full-Time Work to Gig Work

Shivani Prasad¹, Arvind Arahant²

Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Jawaharlal Nehru University^{1, 2}

Abstract

India is one of the labour centric country facing the problem of a falling female labour force participation rate (FLFPR). Women are now shifting from conventional inflexible full-time professions searching for better work-life balance and flexibility. Despite the fact that the gig economy is not new, it is a rapidly developing situation that is changing the nature of work and contributing to a substantive change in the way contemporary economies are organized. This article presents a clear and methodical overview of the impediments women face in the full-time professions and the gig economy’s potential to be the “future of work” for women. Following the brief overview of the gig economy in India, the impediments in traditional work and the potentiality of gig opportunities have been explained in reference to India. Literature has been used from reports, news articles, peer-reviewed articles and books. Not to be gender-specific, the gig economy gives the flexibility to work at any stage of life thereby reducing double jeopardy. The role of working women in full-time jobs seems to be more “supportive” to household income, but unendurable stress and work-life balance have given rise to shiftment towards slash work. The drivers behind the shift especially for women could vary on the basis of the level of skill, life stage and contribution percentage in household income. Medical benefits, social security for workers and a considerable monitoring policy for online harassment especially for female giggers could increase the national participation rate in the economy. A brief conclusion completes the analysis.

Keywords:  Gig workers, women, traditional work, India, potential, FLFPR