CHALLENGES FOR MARRIED WORKING WOMEN IN JOINT AND NUCLEAR FAMILIES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MUMBAI

In cosmopolitan city like Mumbai working or career-oriented women are characterized by unique identity. In the industrialized setup women participation at work force has increased, according to the periodic labour force survey report 2024, the percentage of women participation in the work force is increasing (Ministry of Labour and Employment Directorate General of Employment:2023). Women specially in patriarchal social structure is shouldered with the burden of balancing and handling both duties, outside work place functions as well as household responsibilities, which at times becomes a huge task. This paper elaborates the comparative relationship between married working women in joint and nuclear family in Mumbai. The study is done on married women between the age group of 21 to 60 years who are pursuing similar grade or bracket of job, and following almost similar life style in Mumbai. It is observed in the study that the women staying in the nuclear family structure, are more borne to career upgradement as compared to women staying in the joint family. This is due to availability of various factors like decision-making, minimum or no interference from in-law’s or other first relation members in the family. It is observed that working women in nuclear family are more focussed on their career as well as are able to balance between work and home even if it is stressful. They are comfortable and pleased with liberty of authority and decision-making power. While married working women in joint family as this study shows creates a strong pessimism towards her career and face various difficulties in balancing between work and home. The findings indicate a significant role conflict between relationship, grieved work stress, associated social, economic as well as psychological issues between both married working women in joint family in comparison with married working women of nuclear family.