Women’s economic empowerment and health are intricately linked, forming a powerful cycle of progress. Good health fuels economic participation, while economic security unlocks the resources needed for better health. Understanding this bi-directional relationship between women’s health and economic empowerment is crucial for the upliftment of individuals, communities, and nations.
A reality check on where women’s health and economic empowerment stand today is a good place to start. According to a recent McKinsey Health Institute – World Economic Forum report, women spend more years in poor health and with disabilities than men. On an average, a woman will spend nine years in poor health, affecting her presence and productivity at home, work, and in the community. Bridging this gap, where women spend 25 per cent more time in ‘poor health’ relative to men, could not only improve the lives of millions but also boost the global economy by at least US$ 1 trillion annually by 2040.
Addressing this imperative is crucial for India, where women’s meager participation in the workforce remains a major barrier to the advancement of development and economic gains. Notably, India has closed 64.3 per cent of its overall gender gap, ranking 127th globally, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 20232. However, while the country has achieved parity in education enrolment, women’s economic participation and opportunity remain low at 36.7 per cent, significantly behind the global average of 60.1 per cent. Further, even though some progress has been made in wage and income parity, women’s representation in senior and technical roles has declined slightly.
Health and economic empowerment: A cyclical relationship:
There is no doubt that health influences a woman’s ability to participate in the workforce and contribute to economic growth. When women have access to adequate healthcare, including reproductive health services, they exhibit better cognitive abilities and are less likely to miss work due to illness or due to unplanned events. They are more empowered to pursue careers, achieve financial independence, and escape abusive relationships.
Parallelly, economic empowerment drives improvement in health outcomes. Women with greater economic resources are better able to afford healthcare services, including preventive care and treatments for chronic conditions. Economic security also has the potential to lead to better health outcomes by improving access to education, which in turn enhances health literacy and the ability to make informed decisions. Women with higher levels of economic empowerment are more likely to invest in health-enhancing behaviors and access healthcare services.
Contraceptives and reproductive health: A catalytic role:
Access to contraceptives is a crucial determinant of women’s health and economic empowerment. Being able to make informed decisions about childbearing allows women to plan for and pursue education and career opportunities without interruptions from unplanned pregnancies.
The availability of oral contraceptive pills is, for instance, found to facilitate women’s investment in their careers and education, driving a notable increase in female labor force participation rates. Increased access to contraception is also associated with higher rates of high school and college completion among women, translating into higher lifetime earnings and greater economic empowerment.
Importantly, family planning has far-reaching implications for economic growth at the community and national levels. In India, self-help groups (SHGs) have played a crucial role in improving the income and social capital of socio-economically disadvantaged women. Interventions involving maternal and newborn health discussions in SHGs have significantly improved health practices, including increased antenatal care, iron folic acid tablet consumption, and contraception use, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes.
Most crucially, access to healthcare and reproductive services for women has profound intergenerational impacts. Healthier mothers tend to have healthier babies with higher birth weights, lower infant mortality rates, and better nourishment. Maternal health directly shapes child health outcomes across generations. Children born to healthier mothers are more likely to attain higher levels of education and perform better academically. Children of educated and economically empowered women are more likely to stay in school longer and achieve higher educational outcomes, creating a virtuous cycle of human capital development.