Employed mothers and their families in India

Abstract

This paper examines the salient features of the families with employed women and young children. Focus was given to find out the reasons of working outside the family having small children, their marital relations, alternative child care facilities and above all their own health status. It was found out that majority of mothers work outside due to economic necessity, although fifty percent (50%) of mothers were against it. As for husbands attitudes towards their wife's employment, this study revealed that fifty‐five percent (55%) of the husbands approved their wives working as a full time worker. However thirty eight percent (38%) of selected employed mothers stated that, they were not happy with their work outside the home and feel guilty of neglecting their children and family. Majority, i.e., seventy four percent (74%) of the mothers expressed their dissatisfaction over lack of alternative child‐care facilities available. Re‐examining the father's role in case of employed mothers has been stressed as a future direction.