BALANCING BETWEEN PERSONAL LIFE AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE AS A WOMEN IN SEMI-PATRIARCHY SOCIETY

By: Vijay Tanti

Women play crucial role in a family and society. In Indian cultural context, historically, we see women as a care taker of the family. But now a day women also participate in work and earn money or add income to family. However, majority of population still think a woman is responsible only for the care of children and family. This will lead to a role conflict on the behalf of women. Today a woman plays all the roles simultaneously. She is a caring mother, a good home maker and a responsible member of society. The role of the women is changing continuously. She is taking dual responsibility of family as well as job and for that she is doing many adjustments in her daily life. Working women are stressed with double responsibilities of home and job. But in reality in case of working women society put some constrains which have produced its impact upon her physical and mental health. She also faces many problems associated with her time allocation while engaging in income generating activities outside. A housewife’s role is running and managing home and needs of the family. Housewives are also called as ‘stay at home mothers’.

Balancing personal and professional life as a woman in the Indian context can be challenging due to societal expectations, traditional roles, and professional demands. Here are some strategies that can help:

Cultural Expectations: 

Traditional roles often emphasize responsibilities like managing the household and caring for family members. Navigating these expectations while pursuing a career can be demanding. Workplace Flexibility: The availability of flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible hours, can be crucial. However, not all workplaces offer these options.

Career Growth: 

Women may face additional barriers in career advancement, such as gender bias or limited opportunities for leadership roles. Seeking mentors and advocating for oneself can help overcome these challenges. Self-Care: Prioritizing personal well-being and setting boundaries between work and home life are essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout. Societal Change: As societal norms evolve, there is increasing recognition of the need for gender equality in both professional and personal spheres. Engaging in and supporting these changes can foster a more balanced environment.

No Assistance From Family: 

A lack of family support is another issue that working women face in their daily life. Women may not always be encouraged to leave household chores to their families and go to work.

They also oppose women working late in the office, claiming that it degrades their performance and halts growth. Even though working women manage their professional life by dealing with competition and obstacles at the office, and their personal lives by juggling housework, children, family, and cooking, social duties are still considered primarily a job. They have to work a full-time job while also taking care of all of the household tasks that they used to handle as a stay-at-home mom. As a result of women’s multitasking endeavors, they experience more stress.

Married working women challanges: 

Married working women face various challenges in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. These challenges include the pressure to achieve professional success while fulfilling their roles at home. Psychological barriers such as burnout, work-family conflict, and career-marriage conflict also contribute to the difficulties faced by married working women in maintaining work-life balance. Additionally, women often struggle to balance their work and family life due to traditional gender roles and lack of support from employers and co-workers. Teaching faculties in particular have to make adjustments in their work and personal life, which can result in increased stress levels. The perception of work-life balance for married working women in the education sector involves balancing different spheres of life, managing time, and decision making. They also face challenges such as taking multiple roles, managing personal and professional life, and facing physical and mental health problems [5]. Coping strategies include sacrificing, focusing on responsibilities, and receiving support from spouse.

Conclusion

Indian working women faces several kind of challenges, while working within their own families as well as from work place.

The biggest problem face by working Indian women to convince their own family member to allow them for working in public place.

Achieving a balance between personal and professional life for women in India requires a multifaceted approach. By addressing cultural expectations, enhancing workplace policies, fostering supportive environments, and promoting public awareness, significant improvements can be made. These efforts will not only benefit women but also contribute to a more equitable and productive society. Efforts from all sectors—government, businesses, and communities—are essential to creating an environment where women can thrive both personally and professionally.