The pressure to conform to societal norms is hard to ignore in India. At ABI India, I routinely hear anecdotes from women technologists who, despite support from their husbands, face pressure to leave their jobs from their extended family. For many in India, the ideal woman is, first and foremost, a doting wife and mother. She must also represent the family outside the home, especially at the countless religious and cultural functions that are omnipresent in Indian society. These responsibilities leave little time to develop and hone an ambitious career in technology. While women around the world juggle responsibilities at work and at home, Indian women must meet the expectations of an entire society. And when women do earn a living through their career, this income is often discounted as non-essential. Many households have an unspoken rule that women cannot earn more than their husbands, a disparity reinforced by the fact that Indian women make nearly 29 percent less than their male counterparts in tech.
Anita Borg Institute: Indian women in technology face unique cultural obstacles