As being Professional and Self-sufficient Lady, I Will Not Marry”- An Exploratory Study

• Published in: Pakistan journal of psychological research : PJPR 2022, Vol.37 (3), p.435-452
• Main Authors: Rafiq, Rabia, Saleem, Muhammad, Durrani, Areeha Khan, Siddique, Ali Raza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Families & family life; Gender; Intimacy; Marriage; Qualitative research; Sex roles; Single persons; Women
• ISSN: 1016-0604; 2663-208X
• DOI: 10.33824/PJPR.2022.37.3.26

Marriage is the oldest and widely accepted institution in the world, but new normal of the modern era influenced this institution in a very adequate way. It is commonly observed that financially independent women are avoiding to bound themselves in the rope of marriage. This qualitative study is designed to explore this shift in usual pattern of society. The nine (disinclined to marry) professional (doing some job) women were recruited in this study; their ages were between 25 to 35 years and they were purposefully inducted in the study. The predominant aim of the study encouraged us to go for telephonic interviews that lasted from 20-30 minutes. Before starting the data collection, a formal protocol of study was approved from the departmental research committee. The data were audio-tapped and transcribed by three veterans of qualitative research; memos were also incorporated along with the data. Content Analysis was used to analyze the transcribed data through the lens of Rubin (2021). None of the authors of this research have anti-feministic reflexive orientation that may cause any inclination towards some specific outcomes. This study has been taken care the rigor criteria given by Tobin and Bagley (2004). The findings exhibit that the burden of responsibility, sacrificing career, mistrust in men, financial dependency, compromised decisions for self, letting go of freedom and autonomy were the main factors that were the reason behind compelling a lady not to marry. Findings of this study make us able to see the real picture of the issue that was under the carpet otherwise.