BREAKING BARRIERS: ANALYZING THE CAUSES AND CHALLENGES OF CAREER BREAKS AMONG WOMEN

This paper aims to explore the reasons behind career breaks among professional women, the challenges they face in balancing job responsibilities with family duties, and the suggestions they offer to address these issues. Utilizing a survey methodology, both closed-ended and open-ended questions were employed to gather comprehensive data from a sample of 120 professional women. The sample demographics include 45.9% of women aged 25-35, 40.5% aged 35-45, 10.8% aged 45-55, and 2.7% aged 55-65. Findings indicate that women from middle-class families are more likely to experience pressure to take career breaks compared to women from rural areas, who often lack social and financial stability. The survey results highlight a significant gender gap in terms of basic equality and quality of life, which exacerbates the challenges women face in maintaining continuous professional careers. The study reveals that societal expectations, childcare responsibilities, and the absence of supportive workplace policies are key factors contributing to career breaks. The respondents provided various suggestions for mitigating these issues, including the implementation of flexible working hours, increased access to childcare facilities, and enhanced parental leave policies. This paper contributes to the understanding of the intricate dynamics between professional and personal lives of women, offering insights into potential strategies for creating more supportive work environments that can help women sustain their careers alongside family responsibilities.