Breaking the Cycle: Business Families Must Lead in Safeguarding Women

This article was first published in Business Standard on September 12, 2024; https://www.business-standard.com/opinion/columns/breaking-the-cycle-business-families-must-lead-in-safeguarding-women-124091201362_1.html

The recent tragedy at RG Kar Medical College has once again thrust the issue of women's safety into the national spotlight. As the horrific details emerge, the frustration and anger felt by many are palpable. For those of us who vividly recall the outcry following the Nirbhaya case, this feels all too familiar. Despite the countless articles, protests, and promises of reform, here we are again, grappling with another atrocity that shakes our collective conscience.

Frankly, I don’t want to write this article. After Nirbhaya, there was an outpouring of words, and yet, what has changed? The news of another young woman brutalized makes my blood boil, and it’s hard to see how more words will prevent the next tragedy. But there is something I can say, something I can urge: Business families, the backbone of our economy, it is time to take a stand. The nation needs you to be the change.

The Potential Power of Business Families

Business families wield immense power—not just in terms of economic capital, but also in shaping societal norms. The decisions made within these families often set the tone for how women are perceived and treated, not just within the family business, but in society at large. Unfortunately, these decisions are too often swayed by outdated cultural norms, where women are relegated to the background, serving as silent supporters rather than active participants.

Take a moment to reflect: how many women in your family are truly involved in the decision-making processes of your business? Are they empowered to lead, to innovate, to drive change? Or are they merely rubber stamps, there for the sake of appearances?

The Case for Inclusion: A Lesson from Apollo Hospitals

Consider the example set by the women of the Apollo Hospitals family, who recently released a powerful video message pledging to ensure a safe working environment for all women within their organization. These women, who are not just figureheads but active leaders, understand the impact they can have in creating a culture of safety and respect. Their commitment sends a clear message: when women are empowered, they can drive meaningful change.

Business families have the unique ability to foster gender-neutral environments, where women are given equal opportunities to lead and influence. Yet, many remain bound by the constraints of tradition—whether it’s the expectation that daughters will leave the family business upon marriage, or the belief that sons are the rightful heirs to leadership.

But imagine the impact if business families across the nation decided to break free from these constraints. Imagine if they championed their daughters, daughters-in-law, wives, sisters, and mothers, encouraging them to take on leadership roles, to be the voices of reason and compassion in boardrooms dominated by patriarchal norms.

The Responsibility to Lead by Example

The onus is on business families to lead by example. By promoting women within their own ranks, they not only strengthen their businesses but also contribute to a broader cultural shift. A woman who is empowered in her family business is likely to advocate for the safety and well-being of all women in the workplace. She is likely to challenge norms that have long gone unchallenged and to inspire others to do the same.

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of such heinous crimes as the one at RG Kar, but business families are anything but powerless. You have the resources, the influence, and the platform to effect real change. You have the ability to make your businesses not just profitable, but also pillars of safety and equity.

A Call to Action

I urge you—business families, family businesses—don’t let this moment pass without taking action. Empower the women in your family to be leaders, not just in name but in deed. Create policies that protect all employees, particularly women, from harm. Use your influence to advocate for a society where safety is a given, not a privilege.

Be the change. The nation is watching, and it needs you to lead.

Build a legacy where names like Nirbhaya and Abhaya are never repeated, and candles are lit only in celebration, not in mourning. Pass your enterprises from one generation to the next, while ensuring that what we women hand down to our daughters is empowerment and safety, not candles.