Keywords
Women in Economics
Indian Academia
Inclusive academics
How to Cite
Abstract
This study examines the persistent gender gap in economics academia in India, focusing on the underrepresentation of women at advanced stages of academic progression despite comparable enrollment rates at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines secondary data analysis from AISHE reports with primary qualitative surveys of female economics students, scholars, and faculty members. Trend analysis of enrollment rates and gap analysis of course completion rates are employed to examine gender-wise patterns in the enrollment and completion of economics courses. The findings reveal a pronounced “leaky pipeline,” where women’s participation declines sharply at the PhD completion stage and further diminishes in faculty recruitment and senior academic roles. Key barriers identified include limited mentorship, gender stereotypes, restricted research opportunities, and exclusion from professional networks. The paper concludes by advocating for structural reforms, inclusive policies, and targeted interventions to promote gender diversity and retention in economics academia, thereby enhancing the discipline’s quality and relevance through increased diversity of perspectives. This research thus serves as a crucial step toward understanding and mitigating the barriers that contribute to the “missing women” phenomenon in economics academia.
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