Introduction

• Gendered wealth inequality refers to the unequal ownership and control of assets such as land, property, financial assets, and productive capital between men and women.
• Despite improvements in female labour force participation, women continue to face limited asset ownership, resulting in long-term economic dependence.

Causes of Gendered Wealth Inequality

• Patrilineal inheritance: Women own land in only 12–16% of rural landowning households, despite legal inheritance rights.
• Limited access to credit: Lack of collateral restricts women entrepreneurs from obtaining institutional finance.
• Unpaid care burden: Women spend eight times more hours on unpaid care work than men, limiting income generation.
• Informal employment: Around 86% of women workers are employed in the informal sector with low wages and limited social security.
• Digital exclusion: Lower ownership of mobile phones and digital access reduces financial inclusion.

Consequences

• Economic dependence and limited financial autonomy.
• Lower agricultural productivity due to restricted access to land and inputs.
• Reduced GDP growth by underutilising women's productive potential.
• Higher vulnerability to domestic violence among asset-less women.
• Poor child health and education outcomes due to lower maternal asset ownership.
• Economic insecurity in old age because of inadequate pension and asset accumulation.

Measures

• Ensure effective implementation of inheritance and property rights.
• Expand collateral-free institutional credit for women entrepreneurs.
• Increase joint land and property titles for spouses.
• Reduce unpaid care work through childcare and social infrastructure.
• Strengthen digital and financial inclusion under schemes like PM Jan Dhan Yojana and Digital India.
• Promote women's participation in formal employment and skill development.

Conclusion

Bridging the gender wealth gap requires moving beyond wage equality to equal ownership of productive assets, financial inclusion, and legal empowerment, enabling women to become equal stakeholders in India's inclusive and sustainable economic growth.