This article is written by Maryam Bibi, lecturer at Federal Urdu University, Islamabad

Women today are more active in building families, institutions and companies than ever before.

Yet, many still face hindrances to going beyond conventional roles, such as that of the daughter-in-law, the wife and the mother, and into fully-fledged careers. Those who achieve this bring a raft of benefits, not just to themselves, but to those around them.

I grew up seeing my mother manage her professional role as a school principal, as well as her private role as a mother. She balanced both with admirable grace and competence. Throughout my upbringing, she showed dedication and dignity of a kind I’ve sought to emulate as a female public servant ever since.

In addition to raising the standard of living for two-earner households, women who earn a regular wage are also empowered to make important financial decisions

I want to take you through some of the evidence that shows women can be the kind of role model my mother was for me, provided they are granted the right opportunities.

Studies have shown that increased female participation in the labour force increases a household’s wellbeing. Women who play a significant role in financing a family’s budget lift the status and mobility of that household. Children of employed mothers have been found to have higher-level cognitive abilities, as well as better overall health.

In addition to raising the standard of living for two-earner households, women who earn a regular wage are also empowered to make important financial decisions. This is often shown to be the most effective way of raising per-capita incomes within families.

A study carried out by Luke and Munshi in 2011 has revealed that women’s increased labour participation led women to migrate from outer city regions into metropolises, which improved their family’s socio-economic status, as well their earning power and professional prospects. Women who are free to move around also generally enjoy better mental and physical health.

For societies to come back stronger from this pandemic, public servants like you and me must ensure female participation in the labour market only continues to accrue benefits to families around the world

In their 2018 study, Vikram and Chen revealed that educated working mothers displayed a higher degree of cognitive flexibility, defined as the ability to move intellectually between two or more concepts, or analyse multiple concepts simultaneously.

Cognitive flexibility in mothers has been found to have a significant positive effect on a child’s wellbeing and development. In other words, working women aren’t just better able to invest in their children’s education financially, but are also better placed cognitively to do so as parents.

It is because my mother enjoyed some of these benefits that she was able to pass on her skills and talents to me. In fact, my mother continues to be my mentor as a public servant.

I recently got to know a family in which the mother was the chief earner of the household. Until recently, her husband ran a real estate agency. The business lasted 10 years before the Covid-19 pandemic brought it to its knees. The mother now brings in most of the income by making and sewing garments at home — at once a breadwinner for her family and a fully realised homemaker.

The wellbeing of families has never been so important as in recent months, with the threat to life posed by Covid-19, along with all its economic repercussions. For societies to come back stronger from this pandemic, public servants like you and me must ensure female participation in the labour market only continues to accrue benefits to families around the world.

Here are five ways we can make this happen:

  • Governments must introduce policies that promote flexible work arrangements, such as part-time and part-year work, phased retirement and compressed workweeks,  to encourage female labour force participation
  • There must be a zero-tolerance policy to harassment in the workplace. This should be spelled out in work contracts
  • Childcare centers should be established at scale, along with public and private institutions for the support of working mothers
  • The job quota for female representation in top positions within the public sector must be increased
  • Government should initiate programmes to develop the skills of women in low-income groups. – Maryam Bibi

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(Picture credit: Usnplash)

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