Women and Choices

Abstract

Women and men both make choices about the sort of work they do and the type of career that they want, and their choices are influenced by such factors as location, parental example and their own specific talents, qualifications and interests. In addition, choices tend to be influenced by expectations of what is an appropriate job for a man or for a woman. For both women and men there are also choices to be made about work/family balance which are usually based on assumptions about male and female roles.

Not being married meant that I put 100 per cent of my life into my job. I have no regrets. The way it’s been is the way it’s happened.

I think you have to be driven to succeed. Some people want to achieve and some don’t. I don’t know what makes that difference. When I had children, I loved being a mother, but it never occurred to me not to go back to work. I thought if I am happy, my kids will be happy.

(views of two interviewed women)