Product Overview

This case aims to provide a deep understanding of two important dimensions of Indian society, which are instrumental in determining most socioeconomic outcomes: caste and gender. The case discussion is divided into two parts. The first part examines the roles of caste and gender in modern Indian society. The second part seeks to encourage students to think about actionable, policy-relevant solutions that can be implemented by different social stakeholders (businesses, governments, individuals, etc.) to mitigate caste and gender barriers and build an inclusive labor force. The case is taught at Darden in the second-year elective, “India in the Global Economy.” It is taught in the first week of the course, with the aim of introducing students on the role of caste and gender in modern Indian society. It would also be suitable in courses related to social identity, ethics, business strategy, and social inclusion, where individual identity plays an important role in influencing socioeconomic outcomes.

Learning Objectives

The case seeks to help students build a more holistic understanding of how social identity, through the lenses of caste and gender, matters in the Indian context. This understanding will help students generate deeper insights on topics related to starting, operating, and expanding businesses in India, as well as the design and implementation of government policies. Specifically, the case aims to help students understand the following: (1) the socioeconomic and political underpinnings of the caste system’s important role in modern Indian society, and the role and effectiveness of policy initiatives in mitigating these barriers; (2) the causes and consequences of India’s low female labor force participation rate (female LFPR), and the underlying factors (education, caste, social norms, etc.) that drive this gender gap; (3) actionable policy solutions to build a more inclusive labor force, especially policy and business practices that can potentially help mitigate the labor force gap, the effectiveness of historical attempts in the Indian context, and the challenges and tradeoffs for businesses and governments in designing actionable policies to mitigate gender- and caste-based barriers.