“When I was on my own without the kids, I had no trouble. I worked day to night. Now I’m very different as I’m a working mum. Finding the right balance is just very difficult. Everything else had to take a back seat. I’m figuring it out as I go along and we’re doing just fine.” Jennifer Lopez
This is the case with a large number of women across the globe. A transformation from a pre child birth stage to motherhood is majorly distinct. Non mothers think, act and work differently. The socio economic structure of most of the countries has brought a huge responsibility of nursing, caring, cooking , cleaning and baby sitting upon the shoulders of women. Part timers and temporary employment in the community of women have seen a steep rise almost everywhere. Full timers, earning lucrative perks are going for long hiatus and sabbatical too. Some even quit their jobs or suffer lay offs.
Talk of power women like Jennifer Lopez or any next door woman finding bliss at home, career takes a backseat at some or the other point of life. As a matter of course , women make choices, not for themselves but for the responsibilities they own at home. This article takes you to an in depth assesment of the facts and figures. As we delve into the mater, we’ll try to pick some solutions from the problem zone. Actually, most of the biggest solution of life cropped up from some or the other problem.
The common reasons for which women , specially new moms become job drop outs or corporate quitters, are found to be quite surprising
They feel overwhelmed or overworked
Women do two folds more household work than men , three fold more childcare duties than men and four fold more nursing old and sick in the family. Even if women are blessed to have helping spouses and a sound ecosystem at home, they participate in more of nursing and caring activities.
Fixed Social Standards
Certains numbers are predetermined by the patriarchial society, these numbers are about the age ,a girl should’nt cross with a single status quo, an age at which she must go for a family expansion after marriage, a number on the clock , at the strike of which she must be back home and a number beyond which she must not have male friends. Having friends in schools and colleges is found to be quite permissible in the modern world but the mental sluggishness comes in the picture when it is about having male friends after marriage. A woman is unable to feel confident about herself amidst these social norms and the result is that she prefers to stay back home.
Poor Implementation of Labour Laws
Indian women and their interests have been safeguarded by laws . Maternity Benefit Act 1961 and now the Maternity Benefit Ammendment Act, 2017 , protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a 'maternity benefit'. The various sections and clauses of the Act talk of the time duration of the paid leave and other benefits to be provided by the employer but the sad part is that not all employers provide flexible working hours or creche facilities, henceforth, many women tend to leave their job. Breastfeeding becomes difficult and they are left with no choice but to take a career break.
Insecurity Invades
Leadership roles are taken away from women , once they get back to their jobs after a maternity leave. Their role is less powerful and more submissive . a man’s role is often more empowered . India has very few women holding the top positions in the corporate world. The government sector, however holds less biases . However, differences can be seen here too , when it come to job rotation, transfers or postings. A woman does not love to work with her role diminished in a way that affects her mental health. She quits.
A man’s work is weighed much heavier than a woman’s and this is how things have been working till date. Women, themselves quit their job as it is so badly inculcated in their belief system that if there is a question of care taking or paying attention to someone’s health or studies, it is the female spouse who calls it a day. Reservation for girls at entry level is not enough , as later in their career, women are brought down by the gender gap in their salary structure, promotion benefits and it becomes much louder in terms of downsizing their roles.
Relationship at workplace
The society has a set of rules to differentiate between the “Gentlewoman” and a not so gentle one. Relationship that develops into a love tie between two people , from opposite genders , is too unanimously opposed by one and all .Apart from the social peers, the women themselves are unable to take all the criticisms and accusations, hence resulting in their career break.
The "fourth trimester," or the time after delivery, is found to be the most sickening period for most women.Lot of psychological changes happen, in addition to the physiological changes happen. These changes are not similar to Baby Blues. Shivering or chills are common symptoms, accompanied by strong likes and dislikes for food, people and surroundings. It often ends up in acute depression , wherein a woman attempts to kill herself and her baby too. In normal cases there is a lack of zeal and vigour, sleep diorders and mood swings.
The Pandemic has accelerated the rate at which women are going for job drops.Managing house , with all the family memebers in , 24x7 due to lockdown was not a cakewalk at all. The other side of the court has an altogether different picture, with women dicovering their potential to learn skills and starting up with their own ventures. as men lost their jobs.
The above mentioned reasons have revealed one basic truth that women know more life skills than men. They can become better entrepreneurs, the post pandemic season has brought many women into the forefront of business, thus setting a new trend of LET NO ONE RULE YOUR LIFE .
LNRYL, is very soon going to be the new hashtag and Internet slang , replacing #MeToo. The solution , hence is very clear and transparent.
Career Break can be made meaningful. A huge opportunity has gushed in for women, they can create their own world by learning Data science, AI and Digital creativity. the pandemic has left them stronger, ready to bounce back with added vigour. The women owned enterprises survived as they were small in size, hence undergoing low risk and standing out least affected.
Wait for our next podcast. We have Harman Sidhu, a mom influencer, a postpartum inflencer, who made it worthwhile . Career break should be somewhat like what she dived into. A complete shift from education sector to the glamour and fitness industry.
Stay safe !!!!!!
Yamini Sinha