Agriculture is the predominant form of work available in low-income countries and often does not require skills training and higher education. But as the countries move towards industrialization, as South Asia has, the female labor force participation rate (FLPR) falls because not enough women have had opportunities to gain skills other than those needed from agricultural work. Consequentially, an unequal number of men have entered the industrial workforce, even if they do not have the required level of skill, as preference is being given to them for their perceived “physical” suitability for the jobs.
Dawar N. H. Butt, 'Gender disparity has a cost for Pakistan: Almost US$150b', Asia Times











