JOIN USWorking women in Bangalore and Mumbai are more aggressive about career development than other cities, a survey has found.
A majority of young working women in urban areas of the country are postponing their plans of starting a family because of professional ambitions, states the survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) ahead of International Mother’s Day on May 13.
The survey collected responses from 1,200 married and full-time working women without children, and about 800 non-working mothers in the age group of 24-30 in Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.
Close to 80 of the 150 working women in Bangalore said they did not wish to have a baby for the time being, as their career was a priority. Around 100 out of 150 working women in Mumbai echoed the view.
Of the above, around 30 women said they had quit their jobs to look after their children, and close to 20 said they regretted their decision.
Over half, that is 650 of married working women across surveyed cities said they shelved family plans for higher education and career growth.
Close to 200 respondents from the working women category said they had put off their plans to have a baby as it would disfigure their physical appearance and 70 of them said they were too young to be a mother.
On the other hand, 10 per cent said they worked to raise their lifestyle and aimed at accumulating enough money to bear growing childcare expenses.
Among the 800 non-working mothers, 25 per cent said they regretted not being able to work as they lacked adequate qualifications, had limited job skills and found it hard to make both ends meet due to the rising cost of living. They felt two incomes are imperative at the present juncture.
However, almost 40 per cent of housewives preferred to stay at home and raise their children than paying neighbourhood daycare units when they were off to work.