The gig economy promises empowerment for Indian women—but without urgent reforms, it may deliver more precarity than progress In recent discussions surrounding women’s empowerment, one topic that consistently emerges is financial independence. In this context, the gig economy has become both a catalyst for change and a reflection of women’s challenges in pursuing financial independence. Given that India’s female labour force participation rates are still among the lowest in South Asia, the gig economy is frequently viewed as a way to enhance these numbers.