This paper examines the changing social and economic position of women in India, focusing on two interconnected themes. The first is the role of the IT outsourcing industry in expanding professional opportunities for Indian women, reducing fertility rates, and contributing to broader economic growth. The second is a nuanced analysis of arranged marriage in India, arguing that the practice is not inherently harmful but becomes problematic when it denies young women access to education and personal development. The paper also highlights the significance of class as a factor shaping women's choices and outcomes within the arranged marriage system.
The paper demonstrates effective use of qualified argument — the writer does not take an absolute position but instead draws careful distinctions (e.g., arranged marriage is acceptable when the woman is a willing participant, problematic when it denies education or involves minors). This technique strengthens credibility by acknowledging complexity rather than overgeneralizing.
The paper is organized into two parts. Part A surveys the economic and social impact of outsourcing on Indian women, supported by multiple cited sources on fertility and professional opportunity. Part B pivots to a more personal analytical argument about arranged marriage, distinguishing between class-based and gender-based disadvantages. The conclusion of Part B reframes the central issue as one of class inequality rather than gender alone, offering a provocative and well-supported closing claim.
As Rai (2012) points out, just a generation ago, women had far fewer options in India. Even when they attended college, their job prospects were low and they were more frequently diverted to family life and domestic servitude. Now, increasing numbers of Indian women are empowering themselves through the IT services industry. As much criticism as outsourcing receives in the United States, the truth is that Indian women are largely the beneficiaries, while Americans are being increasingly challenged to discover creative ways of contributing to the economy.
Social norms in India for women differ greatly from those in the United States, where it is much easier for a woman to start a business and avoid marriage and childbirth. In India, a woman is steered in the direction of motherhood at an earlier age and could be socially shunned if her path appears more career-focused than family-focused. In many ways, women in India are experiencing what women in America did a hundred years ago during the Industrial Revolution, as the "cult of domesticity" gave way to newfound opportunities in the previously male-dominated labor force.
Fertility rates in India have been declining, especially in the southern states. Lewis (2013) claims that India's fertility rate is just slightly higher than that of the United States. Mukherjee (2013) points out that women in India are opting to postpone marriage and childbirth to progress professionally, and attributes the phenomenon to improvements in education and outlook for women.
The impact of the empowerment of women is widespread. There are clear economic benefits, as fifty percent of the population will be able to contribute more robustly to entrepreneurship and economic growth. Overpopulation is a major concern worldwide, and declines in population growth are beneficial in freeing up necessary resources and redirecting scarce national resources. As women become empowered, the middle class in countries like India burgeons and grows. The result is rising consumer spending and overall economic growth. Potential downsides include an increase in pollution due to greater numbers of people affording cars and other material goods.
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