A systematic review of empirical research on gender inequality and women’s empowerment in India

The dignity, equality, and empowerment of women are essential indicators of progress in any society, yet gender inequalities persist in India. This review analyses the challenges faced by Indian women in the workplace, career, and personal life by reviewing academic literature from 2016 to 2025. Additionally, it examines the patriarchal norms present in research literature that influence women’s identities and roles. A systematic review of 39 research papers was conducted using the PRISMA framework. With the help of thematic analysis, seven main themes have been extracted, including the dignified identity of women, social construct, empowered identity or empowered feminism, intersectional oppression/intersectional marginalisation, workplace, career, and marriage and relationship. The research summarises that despite progress in gender equality-focused research, women still face social, cultural, and professional challenges that limit their progress and identity. The results indicate that while progress is being made on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, it remains a distant target, while further work is also needed on SDGs 3, 16, 4, and 8. This study emphasises the need for policy reforms and cultural changes to improve further decision-making processes, workplace conditions, and women’s entrepreneurship.