Personal, Family Problems and Challenges Faced By Working Women Vs Housewives

Women are vital elements of society. From ancient period women’s role is confined to family as a home maker. In the modern era many women are working and hence, required to play dual role as working women as well as home maker. The change of role is posing many threats and challenges for the women. The present study is descriptive and comparative in nature. The study was done to assess and compare the personal, family problems and challenges faced by working women and housewives residing in PGIMER Campus, Sec-12, Chandigarh. Total 250 subjects were enrolled i.e.125 housewives and 125 working women by using convenient sampling technique. House to house survey was done to collect the data which comprises of socio-demographic profile, personal, family problems and challenges of housewives and working women, level of depression (Hamilton scale) and level of self esteem (Rosenberg’s scale) and bio-physical profile of subjects. Results revealed that significantly higher percentage of housewives (38.4%) were having chronic illness as compare to working women (21.6%). The quarrel with spouse and crying spells reported significantly higher in working women (95.2%) as compare to housewives (76.0%). Mild depression was experienced by 2.4% of housewives. The study concluded that the housewives were satisfied in terms of relation with family, relatives and utilizing time for leisure activities but there was lack of recognition of their work. Working women were satisfied in terms of freedom to take decisions, their financial conditions and opportunities to go outside the home when required but have more workload and missing their meals.