Why Women Prioritise Careers Post-Academics Instead Of Marriage

A recent survey by UNICEF has revealed a significant shift in attitudes among young people in India regarding women's priorities after studies. The survey, titled "Factors Influencing Young Women's Participation in Labor Forces and Non-Traditional Jobs," polled over 24,000 respondents aged 18–29 across the country.

The findings suggest a move away from traditional expectations, with a 75% majority believing that securing employment is the most crucial step for women after completing their education. The youth revealed a strong inclination towards the belief that women must prioritise job opportunities and secure employment over marriages post-academic.

Why Are Jobs Post-Academics More Important Than Marriage?

In the survey reported by UNICEF's youth platforms, YuWaah and U-Report, the data indicates a growing understanding of the importance of economic empowerment and gender equality among young Indians. Marriage took the backseat in the survey reports, as notably, only less than 20% of respondents advocated for immediate marriage post-academics.

The survey not only highlighted the opinions but also the key factors that influence young women in the country to participate in the workforce, as 52% of respondents emphasized the importance of access to information, opportunities, and support from families, highlighting that support makes a difference. 

In the survey, insights on various other aspects affecting women's participation in the workforce, such as childbirth, post-marriage decisions, flexible work arrangements, etc., were also conducted, as it revealed 55% of women preferred working from home to be able to manage house chores too.

What Experts Say?

Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Arti Ahuja, spoke on the survey and stressed the dire need for "collaborative efforts" to support women's participation in the workforce, saying: "Now is the time to support the hardworking, motivated, talented, and honest women workforce that makes 50 percent of our population."

Ahuja also highlighted the government's commitment to create a "conducive ecosystem" and promote women's representation in both the public and private sectors. She also added that we must encourage increasing women's participation in the workforce across all levels as our country moves towards the vision of becoming one of the top 3 economies in the world by 2047.

Chief of YuWaah at UNICEF India, Dhuwarakha Sriram, also announced the launch of the campaign #SakshamNaariKaSafar aimed at expanding opportunities for women's employment, bridging gaps in gender disparities, and building a society for women to not only participate but to be leaders in the economic landscape of the country.

What Does the Youth Say?

As a fifth of respondents to the survey advocated immediate marriage for women post-academics, a 23-year-old law student with the promise of anonymity spoke to SheThePeople about her personal choice of marrying right after completing education "at the right time" as she believes it would be beneficial for family planning concerning women's ticking biological clock, opining women in most urban families prefer to be working even after marriage in current times. 

Priyanka Dewani, a 23-year-old embroidery artist and small business owner, agreed with the survey's report that claimed 56% of respondents believed that parents, families, or partners play as important actors in choosing career options, as she shared with ShethePeople. People facing first-hand experience marriage pressure from family and a partner who is 5 years older than her. 

47% of female and 42% of male respondents in the survey believed that oftentimes young women's family/parents make decisions regarding their dreams and aspirations. Seconding to these thoughts, a 24-year-old female techie from Hyderabad shared with SheThePeople that she is facing issues getting jobs due to several career shifts in her academics and streams of pressure from her family, who are gullible to the advice of relatives and family friends and not letting her take charge of their lives. 

The survey conducted by UNICEF serves as a powerful reminder of the evolving attitudes towards women's workforce participation and highlights the imperative of concerted efforts to create an inclusive and equitable environment for women to thrive professionally.