Contextual Support and Career Aspirations of Working Women

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to investigate the impact of career-related support in work and non-work domains on the aspirations of women for progression in career. Using multistage sampling technique, the data were collected from 438 female employees working in private sector banks and insurance companies in Punjab, a state in north India. AMOS-based structural equation modelling was performed, and the results revealed that family/spousal support in non-work domain and supervisory and organisational support in work domain significantly predicted the career aspirations of working women, whereas the impact of collegial support was not observed. Supervisor support was found to be the most significant source of support followed by family/spousal support and then organisational support. The present study is a pioneer work, which has empirically examined the role of various forms of contextual supports in work and non-work domains in determining the desired aspirations of working women in India. The study proposes that collective efforts on the part of women themselves, their families, supervisors, colleagues and organisations are required to enhance working women’s propensity to aspire and realise their aspirations for advancement in career.