i) Education, Paid Employment and Household Responsibilities

The spread of education among the middle and upper class women has opened up new avenues of employment. However, education does not necessarily lead to employment. On one hand, illiteracy among the majority of women in the lower socio-economic group constitutes a major barrier to increasing and diversifying work and training opportunities.

On the other hand, pre-defined roles, ideology and labour market forces in a labour surplus economy effectively restrict women’s work opportunity among educated women of certain sectors.

In middle class families, women work for improving or maintaining the standard of living of the family or to provide a cushion against rising cost of living. Working outside home on the same terms and conditions, as men, does not absolve them from their domestic responsibilities. As a result, the dual burden of work exerts physical, mental and emotional strain on them. One of the consequences of double burden may be delayed promotions or sacrificing new job opportunities due to family responsibilities.