Recently, the Economist, carried at its main story, the increasing role of women in the workforce, in the West. How as more and women are graduating from universities, they are inundating the ranks of the workforce. It also clarified that women work differently than men and should not be treated or expected to perform the same as men.
It dwelt on how women are more team-oriented, emotive etc, yet they also require more flexible working hours to cope with their domestic duties. Many firms allow them to work at home or take two days off and work longer during the week and flexible leaves to allow maternity leave or a break in their careers.
One reader responded that besides looking after children, women are also expected to look after ageing parents, which also takes up a lot of their time. It is a pity that in Pakistan, there are no surveys to determine firms' attitude towards women workers nor the views of the female workforce themselves and how they cope with their varied duties.