From Career to Home Making: Exploring Women’s Experiences of Leaving Full Time Work

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22304078

Pranjal Sharma, Ritu Modi, Manikandaprabu Murugesan, Ishita Pathak, Akshat Singh, Ankushi Jain, Anushka Srivastava, Shahas Dubey, Vaishnavi Mishra, Sidharth Anand, and Gaurav Pandey (Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh)

The present study explores the lived experiences of women who have left their full-time careers and transitioned to homemaking. The study uses a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with twenty women who have experienced this transition; the data collected was then thematically analyzed. The findings of the study revealed that motivation to transition to a homemaker role was often shaped by the interplay of factors such as family expectations and demands of motherhood. The findings also highlight the important role of various coping mechanisms through the transition, as well as the psychological and emotional adjustment required. The participants also reported considerable changes in their self-worth and sense of identity while experiencing loss of social connection. The findings of the study also highlight the varying degrees of autonomy and decision-making power women experience post transition, majorly influenced by the changing family dynamics and the available social support. Participants also shared views on gender roles in society, while simultaneously advocating for shared household responsibilities and greater recognition for the work of homemakers. The study tries to offer insights on how experiences of women transitioning to homemaking are shaped, implicating that greater public awareness, policy formulation in skills and work flexibility required in women’s careers, and women’s emotional well-being, and interventions for women who leave the work force are needed. Limitations include a small sample size. Future research would be well advised to employ larger, more representative samples and family respondents to provide a more comprehensive portrait of this life transition.