Varshini S, Akilan S.T
In the book ‘The feminine mystique’ by Betty Friedan has argued, women are socialized to believe that their primary role in life was to be a wife, mother and homemaker. The traditional belief that women should take on family caregiving, childcare, and domestic work adds pressure, while societal stigma around men’s involvement in household tasks complicates matters further. This study describes the socio-economic and demographic profile of working women in Chennai. The study explored the perception of women as primary care-givers and impact on women's careers due to gendered role expectations. The data were collected from 50 respondents with the structured questionnaire. A non-probability sampling technique was used. The findings of the study indicated that women were still perceived as the caregivers in their families, with these roles being reinforced through socialization processes. Caregiving responsibilities that are imposed on women remain largely unrecognized and undervalued. There exists significant challenges in managing the dual pressures of family care and professional responsibilities. The study underlined the need for more recognition and support to alleviate the pressures they face in balancing family care and career. The study suggested that caregiving responsibilities should be taught to both genders as a vital life skill, rather than emphasizing these duties solely for women. Awareness programs on this topic should be introduced in schools and colleges to promote gender equality and shared responsibility in caregiving.