Soaring on wings of aspiration and support: a study of married Indian women professionals staying away from families to pursue higher studies

Abstract

As the work environment is changing globally, newer trends of work and career mobility are emerging. ‘Return to school’ for the enhancement of career is considered as a means to career mobility. The present study explores what factors spur well-qualified married women professionals to take a break from their career so as to join a rigorous educational program which requires them to stay away from their families for a substantial time. This study is a part of a larger research on dual career couples. The research is grounded in the Indian context. The ten cases included in this study are of married Indian women professionals, who opted to stay away from their families (including, in some cases, babies and small children) in another city / country to pursue higher studies. This study is exploratory and qualitative in nature and is based on semistructured interviews of the participants. In the backdrop of the traditional Indian society with stereotypical notions of gendered roles, the study focuses on the motives of professional women for such a decision, the facilitators, and the challenges faced by them during their academic pursuit. Dissatisfaction with work situation, need for skill enhancement, and an urge to develop one’s own identity emerged as the main motives. Support and encouragement from spouse and other family members as well as age were reported as key facilitators. The main challenges faced were psychological turmoil, strain on significant relationships, and the financial stretch and stress.