Non-family support hinders stable career for women: Survey

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A majority of women feel their career growth is destabilised due to lack of access to non- family support with only 20 per cent of them having this backing in their mid-career stage, according to a survey.
"Lack of access to non-family support is destabilising the career growth of women employees in India. Only 20 per cent of women employees have non-family support in their mid- career stage compared to 55 per cent of male employees surveyed, a significant difference of 35 per cent," it said.
The study was carried out by FLEXI Careers India, a social enterprise that works in the area of diversity and inclusion with a special focus on gender diversity.

The survey, conducted among 2,456 working professionals, showed that men enjoy a steady increase of non-family support at all levels - early stage (46%), mid-stage (55%) and matured stage (57%).
However, women employees fall way behind with percentages of 35, 20 and 33 - showing greater dip, especially from early to mid phase - a stage where a large number of them would have got married.
"Our research says that all things remaining constant, the woman's intentionality in pursuing a career is revealed in the model she creates for herself. This model can be applied in workplaces too," FLEXI Careers Founder-Director Saundarya Rajesh said.

The study revealed that 50 per cent of the surveyed women respondents aspired for career growth at an early stage and 59 per cent at the mid stage.

About 72 per cent women in the mid stage and 64 per cent in matured stage sought better work-life balance.
The survey indicated that 70 per cent of the women respondents in their early career, 63 per cent in mid-career and 64 per cent of in matured stage were driven to greater achievements at workpalce as against 63 per cent, 62 per cent and 62 per cent of early, mid and matured career men.

Men depend more on external, non-family support system than women. Ten per cent of male professionals were supported by their bosses as against 7 per cent women. About 26 per cent of the male respondents and 20 per cent of women were dependent on support from friends, the survey said.