"Sexual division of labor, a necessary consequence of all human interaction with nature has now become a relationship of dominance and exploitation". With respect to this statement, explore the social-cultural determinants of gender based division of labor in Indian context.

India's labour force participation of women is declining continuously and today it stands at 18%. This is worrying.

With increasing modernization in economic terms, India is going back civilizationally as patriarchal domination is increasing.

The gender-based division is a culmination of all prejudices, patriarchal authority persisting in society.

Thus, though women work in paid-sector, yet the 'unpaid work' still remain their 'original' responsibility. Men dont consider it as their duty to contribute in it. This is ingrained in them from decades and notion of masculine stops them.

Women (around 80%) do only unpaid household works. They are neither credited nor praised for it and have to remain dependent on their husbands for economic needs. This is akin to slavery, though a legalized one.

Parenting a child remains sole duty of women. India gives only maternal leaves and not paternal leave. This is manifestation of this thought.

In paid sectors too, 'pink-collared' jobs like receptionist, hospitability, air hostess, nurses, primary teachers jobs are considered 'suitable' for women due to their 'feminine' nature. This heavily curtails women's empowerment and mobility.

Early marriage, low education of girl child lead to their low 'market chances' in future, thus low employability.

Also deterring fact is that women get 33% less paid than their male counterparts for same amount of work done.

Women are seen as 'respect' of family. Thus, they are 'allowed' to work only for 'economic' needs of 'family' and not as a matter of equal rights. When a family prospers, women are taken out of work as it is considered a thing of poor, low caste people.