Follow Your Career Dreams; It’s Never Too Late #WomenOnTheMove

Women’s career dreams. Why are they short lived? How to take charge of our dreams after a career break? Finding the answers with #WomenOnTheMove.

You should have an aim in life, in your career and be ambitious. Stand on your feet. Be independent!

Strong, motivating reminders often say this. The irony is, while not much changes for men all their lives, things change drastically for women. They are constantly and consistently told — be ambitious, but once married – your ambition changes, you now have a family. Stand on your feet but keep them grounded, you now have a family. Be independent but careful, you now have a family.

Last week, we had our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat over at Twitter, where we discussed why women’s career dreams are short lived, what are the primary factors that go behind women abandoning their dreams and how women can take charge of their life and dreams after a career break. This is what they said.

(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7PM IST).

Why do women abandon their careers?

A1: For their children – to become a full time mom. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/syVElIq0up

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) March 1, 2017

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@womensweb A1. When they become mother n doesn’t have much support around. #WomenOnTheMove

— Sonalini Singh (@sonalini_singh) March 1, 2017

@womensweb A1: Marriage – because the inlaws and/or husband demand it. #WomenontheMove

— Sudesna Ghosh (@sudesna_ghosh) March 1, 2017

1. When your in laws force you to quit or when you become a mom and have no support #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/CVEbIpSN4M

— Sreesha (@petrichorclouds) March 1, 2017

@womensweb A2: Relocation for a spouse’s career is another common reason. #WomenontheMove

— Sudesna Ghosh (@sudesna_ghosh) March 1, 2017

@womensweb A1. Lack of support from the organisation as well as at home! #WomenOnTheMove

— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) March 1, 2017

@womensweb Lack of flexibility in most organizations, family pressure, sometimes guilt.

— Back to the Front (@back2dfront) March 1, 2017

Why are women’s careers not taken seriously?

2. Yes. A woman’s income is still considered “additional” or “complementary”,not primary.A career isnt considered a priority #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/JZb4fSzwp1

— Sreesha (@petrichorclouds) March 1, 2017

@womensweb Most of the times money is the main reason, thus not careers only jobs.

— Back to the Front (@back2dfront) March 1, 2017

Exactly! If they still display too much ambition, they’re given labels like bossy and aggressive. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/7DIXfrrOnP

— Sreesha (@petrichorclouds) March 1, 2017

@womensweb True. The mindset – women should look after the kid/home. Men are main bread earners; it’s still there. #WomenOnTheMove

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) March 1, 2017

@womensweb A1. Agreed! our main career is the home & family! Job is something we do in the meanwhile ! #WomenOnTheMove

— Ishieta Chopra (@Ishieta) March 1, 2017

Winds of change — are they blowing?

@womensweb A2. Disagree. Though a small percentage, women do have careers. It’s a growing tribe. #WomenOnTheMove

— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) March 1, 2017

A2: Times have changed. Many Indian women are entrepreneurs.They work independently/work from home in every field. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/5JLsTpM0v7

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) March 1, 2017

@womensweb Some people are stuck in jobs, some make careers. The word is people- no generalisation based on gender.

— Gunjan (@Koyriwali) March 1, 2017

Time to take matters into your hands. Time to tell your daughters to take charge!

@womensweb A4: I’d love to lead by example & be the change. Ws d first in d business family to follow my passion #WomenOnTheMove

— Nidhi Sethi (@iam_agog) March 1, 2017

4. A lot of the conditioning starts early. Teach them to aspire for bigger dreams. Encourage learning. Give them good books #womenonthemove https://t.co/gMgibmJgPy

— Sreesha (@petrichorclouds) March 1, 2017

A4: By giving them some space/freedom to choose their career. Don’t show urgency for marriage. Give them some time. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/nCYjZBYHyy

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) March 1, 2017

@womensweb A4. By telling them they can literally do anything if they have the willpower & willingness to pursue it. #WomenOnTheMove

— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) March 1, 2017

@womensweb by not drilling in their heads from childhood that marriage is the ultimate goal and life has much more to offer.

— Back to the Front (@back2dfront) March 1, 2017

@womensweb by giving equal opportunities as the sons and not bog them down by social pressures.

— RitwikaM (@RitwikaM) March 1, 2017

@womensweb last A: Don’t sulk, act on it. Be the change & value ur skills. There’s no fun in being the underdog 😊 #WomenOnTheMove

— Nidhi Sethi (@iam_agog) March 1, 2017

6. Figure out what you really wanna do and what’s stopping you. Then change it. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/eWyPFu2XbD

— Sreesha (@petrichorclouds) March 1, 2017

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