A majority of working women in metros are putting career growth ahead of child-rearing. They are also shelving motherhood plans fearing that stress and emotional distress associated with work-life balance would make raising children a “delicate balancing act”. These are the findings of a random survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on about 1,200 young full-time working women without children, and about 800 stay-at-home mothers in the age group of 24-30 years in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

Over half (650) of married working women said they had shelved plans to start a family as career advancement and higher education was a priority, according to the survey.

Emotional distress

Also, they were apprehensive about dealing with stress and emotional distress associated with issues of work-life balance, said Mr D.S. Rawat, Secretary General of the industry chamber in a release.

“Household chores, social commitments and other obligations make raising kids a delicate balancing act for career women,” he said.

Lifestyle and wealth were also quoted as reasons for opting out of motherhood by about 10 per cent of women, who said they worked for a better lifestyle and to accumulate enough wealth to cope with the rising costs of childcare.

Of the 800 stay-at-home mothers, about 35 per cent admitted that they had put their social life on hold and were not able to take much care of themselves and their families. About 25 per cent said they regretted not being able to work and were finding it hard to make both ends meet due to rising living costs. Of these, about 80 said they regretted motherhood as they had lost their social identity, the survey said.

There were many others, of course, who said they were proud of choosing motherhood over work as it could lead to comprehensive development of their children.

>aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

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