Bridging the Gender Gap: Role of Education, Career Counseling & Mental Well-being in Shaping Women’s Futures
If we want real change, we must move beyond slogans and address the systemic gaps holding women back. (Source: DALL-E)
— Ganesh Kohli
Globally, only 28 per cent of professionals in STEM are women, and despite efforts to close the gap, systemic barriers, unconscious biases, and a lack of career guidance persist. This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about unlocking the full potential of half the world’s population, an economic imperative. The OECD estimates that closing the gender gap in labor markets could increase global GDP by 7 to 12 per cent.
Early Career Counseling: Breaking Bias Before It Takes Root
Gender biases in career choices take root early. India stands at a crossroads, with immense potential yet much ground to cover. Research shows that by age six, girls are already less likely than boys to associate intelligence with their gender. By high school, many unconsciously eliminate STEM, finance, or leadership roles. The 2024 Annual Student Quest Report revealed that over 40 per cent of Indian students have never interacted with a career counselor. This gap is particularly significant for young women, who often receive little encouragement to explore non-traditional fields.
This is where career counseling becomes a game-changer. A well-structured programmeme, introduced as early as middle school, can:
- Expose young girls to diverse career paths, breaking stereotypes.
- Introduce role models, women in STEM, business, and leadership who challenge norms.
- Provide structured mentorship, so young women receive guidance to pursue these fields.
- Empower teachers to act as 10 per cent counselors, ensuring career conversations are seamlessly integrated into everyday learning, helping students explore possibilities beyond conventional choices.
Mental Well-being: The Invisible Barrier to Women’s Success
Empowerment is more than opportunity; it is emotional resilience. Even when women enter male-dominated fields, they battle imposter syndrome, workplace bias, and mental health struggles.
The pressure to prove themselves “worthy” in a system not built for them takes a toll on women’s mental health. The lack of support systems, from schools to workplaces, worsens this challenge.
This is why mental health must be a non-negotiable part of career guidance and education. Schools and universities must move beyond academic excellence and prioritise emotional well-being alongside intellectual growth by:
- Integrating mindfulness and resilience training to help young women navigate pressures.
- Embedding counseling programmes into school curricula, offering emotional support.
- Creating safe spaces for mentorship, where women seek guidance without judgment.
Building a Supportive Ecosystem for Women’s Mental Health
Policies like NEP 2020 and the UMEED Guidelines emphasise the importance of mental health in education, but their success depends on effective implementation. Schools, parents, and communities must work together to dismantle societal stigmas surrounding women’s mental health. Open discussions at home and in schools can normalize help-seeking behavior, making support more accessible for young women. Schools should integrate career and mental health counseling from an early stage, ensuring female students receive guidance in navigating both academic and societal expectations. Establishing peer-support circles and mentorship programmes can create safe spaces for young women to share their challenges, fostering emotional resilience.
Additionally, parental awareness programmes can equip families with the right tools to provide support without pressure. A collaborative approach between policymakers, educators, and mental health experts is crucial to creating a supportive educational ecosystem where young women feel heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Bridging the gender gap is not just about empowering women, it is about reshaping economies, industries, and societies. When women succeed, economies grow, innovation thrives, and communities strengthen. But to reach that future, we must start now. We must integrate structured career counseling into education, build emotional resilience into academic frameworks, and demand institutional accountability for equal access.
This Women’s Day, let’s move beyond celebrating achievements. Let’s commit to changing the systems that keep too many women from reaching their full potential.
Because when women rise, the world rises with them.
(The writer is the Founder, IC3 Movement)
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