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Maternity Shouldn't Be A Barrier In Women's Career: Supreme Court Judge BV Nagarathna

According to the Supreme Court Judge, no country, community, or economy could ever reach its full potential, without equal participation of women.

sharanya

02 Apr 2022 06:55 IST

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Supreme Court Judge, Justice BV Nagarathna recently commented on how women need to have caregiving alternatives so that they do not have to drop out of the workforce."I have firmly believed that maternity should not be a barrier for the careers of women to plateau or dip. Motherhood must not result in a situation where women are passed over for promotions and hiring," she said.

Society often sees motherhood as a woman's sole duty. Motherhood gives purpose to a woman's life, they say, and thus a woman should always put childcare over her aspiration and career. Why should motherhood be the only purpose of a woman's life? What about her career, if she wishes to have one? Why should she have to compromise on her ambition, simply because society expects her to shoulder caregiving duties singlehandedly?

Recent studies show that if women were to be represented in the economy at the same rate as men, the Indian economy would grow by an additional 27 percent. Women's participation in the workforce will uplift not just our country but improve the overall financial standing of society and families. If only our society can provide them with a support system and free them of the guilt that every working mom must endure if she has to leave a child in someone else's care to get to work.

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Maternity Should Not Be Barrier In Women's Career

Justice BV Nagarathna recently attended the inauguration of a crèche facility, on Friday, at the Delhi High Court. While delivering the guest of honour speech she stated, "I have firmly believed that maternity should not be a barrier for the careers of women to plateau or dip. Motherhood must not result in a situation where women are passed over for promotions and hiring. It is in that context that I say that providing access to quality childcare at the workplace would play a significant role in ensuring that motherhood does not become an insurmountable barrier to women's empowerment."

According to the Supreme Court Judge, no country, community, or economy could ever reach its full potential, without equal participation of women. And that can only be ensured if workplaces also embrace maternity and provide access to reliable, and good-quality childcare. This step will certainly encourage more mothers to work, build their careers and participate in the labour force.

Motherhood mostly becomes an obstacle, as no help is received from the workplace or society for women to prove otherwise. Justice BV Nagarathna expressed disappointment over the fact that women have no choice but to leave the workforce, including the legal profession, in spite of an increase in their entry, because of lack of childcare facilities at their workplaces. One of the reasons, behind women having to choose childcare over their career, was the lack of an alternate caregiver, she said.

Justice Indira Banerjee, who also attended the inauguration as the chief guest, agreed with Justice BV Nagarathna. She lauded the high court stating that providing a crèche facility was a big leap toward women empowerment. This would provide a chance at equality and equal opportunity for women. She also stated that parenting is a "joint responsibility", but a society with its deep-rooted patriarchal mindset believes that childcare is the sole responsibility of the mother.

women and motherhood BV Nagarathna Indian women Judges Supreme Court women judges

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