ROLE CONFLICT AMONG EDUCATED WORKING WOMEN: A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR OF DEHRADUN CITY

Abstract

In India, women have made their mark in various fields. However, in India, women's working status has remained intertwined with the family. Working women have to play both the roles of a homemaker and a working professional. They face a conflict between the roles they play as a homemaker and mother on one hand, and as a productive worker on the other. Family responsibilities often overshadow their work. They experience the dilemma of understanding these contradictory roles. This research paper is based on primary and secondary data. The researcher has attempted to examine the role conflict experienced by educated working women regarding their work. Women feel pressured regarding their work. An exploratory and descriptive research design has been used to complete the present study. Role conflict among educated working women remains a major social issue today, primarily stemming from the burden of the "double role" of balancing a professional career with traditional domestic expectations. Despite higher levels of education, women often face conflicting demands, where fulfilling one role (e.g., career professional) makes it difficult to fulfill another (e.g., primary caregiver). Modern society is characterized by women's successful attempts to achieve gender equality in the workplace, which have been made possible through various measures: education, affirmative action, and economic empowerment policies. Yet, a large number of working women struggle to manage the dual roles of both household chores and their jobs. Their working lives are a constant attempt to balance domestic responsibilities and job-related demands – whether they live in rural or urban areas.