Gender issues related to work

Fair work should not have discrimination based on gender. In exams write equality and dignity.

A gender audit examines whether employees of different genders receive fair treatment and equal access to recruitment, pay, promotion, training, facilities and a safe work environment. Therefore, option A is correct. Stopping wages or removing employees is not the purpose of an audit. Exam tip: Remember that an audit means review and assessment, not punishment.

The same recruitment rules for women and men reflect the principle of equal opportunity. This means selection should be based on merit, skills and experience, not on gender. Workplace safety is important, but it is not the main principle addressed by equal recruitment rules. Exam tip: Gender-neutral recruitment and selection indicate equal opportunity.

Flexible training schedules, such as morning, evening, or part-time sessions, help a woman attend training while managing household responsibilities. Family support can also share care and domestic work. Stopping the programme or excluding her increases inequality of opportunity, while lower wages do not solve the access problem. Exam tip: For gender-related barriers at work, mention flexible arrangements and family support.

Women trainers can make many trainees feel safe and comfortable. In exams write supportive environment.

When a woman manages household work, care responsibilities and paid work outside the home together, she has limited time for each task. This double burden creates time pressure, often called time poverty. Option D is incorrect because household responsibilities usually continue even when she works outside. Exam tip: Define ‘double burden’ as the combined responsibility of domestic and paid/outside work.

When men participate in household tasks, responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and child care are not limited to women alone. This shares the workload and promotes gender equality in the family. Option A is the opposite because shared work reduces the sole burden on women. Exam tip: Link household work with ‘equal sharing of work’ and ‘gender equality’.

Women farmers often do important work but get less recognition. In exams write labour recognition.

Adequate lighting makes pathways, stairs, equipment and possible hazards visible at the workplace. It reduces the risk of accidents and insecurity and helps women, as well as all employees, work comfortably. Lighting has no direct purpose of reducing wages or stopping training. Exam tip: Link good workplace lighting with safety and ease of work.

Family support helps women make work-related decisions, arrange care for children or household responsibilities, and manage their time. This enables more regular participation in employment, self-employment, or training. Option B describes a barrier, whereas family support increases participation. Exam tip: Mention sharing household responsibilities and time management.

Paying an employee less solely because she is a woman is gender discrimination at the workplace. Pay for similar work or responsibility should be based on fair factors such as the work performed, skills, and experience—not gender. Equal training and promotion rules are measures that reduce discrimination, not examples of it. Exam tip: Words such as “only because of gender” usually indicate gender discrimination.

Market information makes it easier to decide product and price. In exams write enterprise skill.

Gender-neutral language gives opportunity to all qualified people. In exams write inclusive language.

A safe changing space and clean toilets protect women employees’ privacy, dignity and safety at the workplace. An open unsafe space compromises privacy, while closing complaints or withholding wages are not facilities that support privacy. Exam tip: For privacy-related questions, look for separate, safe and hygienic facilities.

When payment is deposited directly into a woman's bank account, she has better awareness and control over her earnings. It reduces the possibility of middlemen making deductions or manipulating payments and also creates a transaction record. Therefore, option A is correct. Option B is incorrect because direct bank payment does not automatically reduce income. Exam tip: Link this point with women's economic empowerment and financial inclusion.

A respectful work culture is built through everyone understanding. In exams write collective responsibility.

In a self-help group, members make regular small savings. The pooled amount can provide small loans to members when needed, helping them start income-generating work and become economically empowered. The other options describe negative situations, not benefits. Exam tip: Remember two key features of SHGs—collective savings and small loans.

When a woman cannot decide how her own earnings are used, she lacks control over income. This is a gender issue linked to economic empowerment and decision-making power within the family. Safe employment concerns safety at the workplace, so it does not address this situation. Exam tip: The right to decide how earnings are used is a key sign of economic autonomy.

Knowing legal rights helps women understand what fair treatment, safe working conditions, equal pay, and protection from harassment or exploitation should look like. It also makes them more confident when discrimination occurs. Legal awareness does not mean that a person must leave work or reduce wages; it means she can recognize an unfair act and seek suitable support.

For example, a woman who faces unequal treatment can keep records, approach an appropriate authority, use a complaint procedure, or seek legal assistance. Thus, the knowledge connects her with remedies and justice. Option A is correct because it directly describes getting help against discrimination and exploitation. The other choices describe harmful or unrelated actions, not the purpose of legal rights.

Caring for children, older persons and other dependants is essential labour for the functioning of families and society. Treating it as important labour therefore recognises care work. In contrast, considering it only a woman’s duty reinforces a gender stereotype. Exam tip: Examples of care work include childcare, helping older persons and providing care at home.