The status of any population in a society is intimately connected with its economic position, which itself depends upon rights, roles and opportunities for participation in economic activities (Government of India, 1974, p. 148). Therefore, in addition to education, employment should also be considered as a variable measuring the status of women. Equal opportunity for economic participation is or should be the right of all men and women because discrimination against women is incompatible with human dignity and the welfare of the family and of society (United Nations, 1967).

The Constitution of India pledges equality of status and opportunity, justice, social, economic, political, and dignity of the individual to men and women equally. Despite the assurance of equal opportunity in employment, in reality women have less access to employment in services. The disparity in employment ratio is considered often attributed to the lower level of education of women. Moreover, in a patriarchal society these disparities are largely the result of several other factors, such as attitude of men towards women's role and employment, discrimination perceived by women in selection and promotion as well as due to their household duties and child care. A committee on the status of women in India stated that the ‘image of Indian women is created by a few women holding high position or academic qualification’, which serves to conceal rather than reveal the reality of the low status and educational levels of the average Indian woman (Government of India, 1974).