Professional Women’s Perceptions of Financial Well-Being in a Patrifocal Culture

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the perception of financial well-being among 30 professional women belonging to the middle to upper class in India through a series of in-depth one-to-one interviews. The major dimensions of financial well-being revealed from the narratives were financial adequacy, financial security, having control over one’s finances, being independent, and having a balance in life. The findings were explained based on psychological theories on human motivation. This study improves the present state of knowledge about the financial well-being of women by providing fresh insights into their perspectives, its key driving factors, and the key issues that are critical to their financial futures. The information can be used to develop effective financial intervention strategies and policies to improve financial well-being that target the specific needs of women in an emerging country context.