The Queens of the Household
Professor Muhammad Yunus started Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in 1976. His initial goal was completely equal. He wanted to lend 50% to men and 50% to women. However, the bank soon noticed a trend. Women were more likely to use the loans well. They used them in ways that improved the financial condition of their families. As a result, Grameen Bank gradually shifted its focus toward women borrowers. Today, over 97% of its 10.8 million borrowers are women. This story reveals a major truth. Women’s economic participation creates benefits that reach far beyond the individual borrower.
Our moms always tell us to save money. Women often play a central role in household financial decisions. They might earn the income themselves. They might manage family resources instead. Either way, their earnings tend to support essential areas. These areas include education, healthcare, and savings. Families become financially stronger when women participate more in the economy. An economy is ultimately made up of millions of households. Therefore, stronger families contribute to a stronger nation.
However, women’s participation outside the home declines when they do not feel safe. As a result, families lose economic opportunities. The broader economy loses valuable human capital.
The Invisible Tax
By now, you can probably see how important women are to society. This is true for reasons far beyond financial ones. Currently, however, we are focusing on the economic side only. A woman might start avoiding certain places, hours, or work opportunities. When this happens, companies lose more than a potential customer. They also lose talent. In that sense, an unsafe environment is like an invisible tax on business activity.
Take the nighttime economy as an example. Most restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and shopping malls generate a large portion of their revenue during the evening. These are the places where we usually hang out after a hectic day. But what if women stay home after dark because they do not feel safe? The mentioned businesses lose many of their potential customers.
An economy where half the population hesitates to participate fully in public life is flawed. It is an economy that leaves money on the table every single day.
The Talent Shortage
Losing customers is only one side of the story. An unsafe environment also makes it harder for businesses to find talented people. Many women choose workplaces close to their homes. They do this even when better opportunities exist elsewhere. Others may avoid jobs that require late shifts or frequent travel.
This matters heavily because of a massive workforce gap. For every 10 men participating in the workforce, only about 5 women do. Safety concerns discourage women from pursuing opportunities. Consequently, businesses lose access to an already limited pool of talent. Recruitment becomes more difficult, hiring costs increase, and productivity suffers.
The Long Night: Slowing Down Growth
Think about it. A restaurant that serves fewer customers earns less. A company that cannot access the best talent becomes less productive. These effects occur across thousands of businesses. When that happens, the impact is no longer limited to individual businesses. Economic growth itself starts to slow down.
In that sense, women’s safety acts like a vital economic indicator. It shows how much opportunity women actually have to contribute to the country’s growth.
If women feel unsafe,
the whole economy will be unsafe.
Give a thought!!!
References:
1. grameenbank.org.bd/about/introduction
2. genderdata.worldbank.org/en/economies/bangladesh
Guest Author: Sadab Sakib, in collaboration with Daily Scrolldown