There can never be a tool of development more powerful than the empowerment of women. As we enter a new era where gender discrimination is gradually becoming extinct, we are witnessing women grow in diverse roles and positions across the corporate and social realms. From becoming scientists and powerful corporate figures to acquiring positions as senators in assemblies across developed nations like the USA, women with their courage and perseverance are blazing trails in different walks of life.

Women In BPO Industry

While women are successfully proving their mettle in different domains, the BPO industry has been actively helping them with job opportunities. Women form a huge part of the workforce in outsourced call centres all across the globe. Well-paying jobs in this sector attract women from different segments of the society, considering the minimum qualification required is either 10+2 or graduation in most BPOs.

In roles like customer service representatives, women are doing quite well and are achieving incredible success with their hard work and acumen. In fact, they are facing the corporate ladder and are acquiring managerial positions in the BPO/IT industry. Today, when you will walk in an outsourced call centre, you will find out that a huge portion of the workforce is female.

Indian BPOs – Opportunity Vs Social Hardships

Whilst BPOs have been providing a stable income resource to women all across the globe; in developing countries like India, the social hardships faced by women often restrains their career growth. Their career takes a backseat as soon as the family obligations and restrictions imposed by the society come into play, especially after they get married.

Outsourced call centres in India have both day shifts and night shifts, where women are hired without any discrimination. In fact, in Indian call centres, you can find a staggering number of female employees who aren’t just working at executive levels but also at managerial positions.

The bias sadly starts at homes, in most families women both before and after marriage are expected to work in day shifts. This puts a brake at their career, which can grow exponentially in international call centres that mostly operate in night shifts. Since staying out at night is considered unsafe for women in India, they often have to quit jobs and even reject promotions.

International client support requires agents to operate at night and odd hours because of the time zone difference. The odd hours and graveyard shifts offer better remuneration and career growth than the domestic processes. However, women in India are still held by the shackles of social norms and family obligations and they can’t take up night shifts if their family disagrees.

Indian Outsourcing Industry Makes A Difference

In spite, of so many hardships faced by women in India with the support rendered by the Indian BPO industry; they still are able to succeed against all odds.

Contact centres in India have no tolerance policies and provisions to deal with harassment. In fact, they have a cell within the organization to deal with harassment head on and the accused is subjected to immediate suspension and investigation. This, of course, creates a safe work environment for women and helps them stay productive at the workplace without any fear.

Apart from this, in most call centres women are allowed to take up day shifts and meet their family obligations whilst succeeding career-wise. This helps them keep their jobs under any circumstances. They cannot achieve the career growth and remuneration of an international process whilst working in a domestic process but at least they aren’t forced to quit.

However, it is vital that we as a society change and allow our women to have the freedom they truly deserve. A woman can work night shifts and still take care of her children, she shouldn’t be expected to choose between her family and her work. She deserves everything and most of all she deserves the support of her family.

When a society changes its perspective for women, it is propelled to grow and develop but it all starts at your home. Discrimination isn’t just in the outside world, it is within your homes and the change should start right there. When every individual and family will support this change, we will see more and more women succeeding in different walks of life.