The title is not meant to suggest that working wives are not or cannot be home makers. It’s just to trigger discussion on a question I saw recently. “Do Men Prefer Working Wives?” asks Ritu Varma in her article in the Times of India. The answer seems to be an overwhelming “yes”. But I guess such an answer is – in India at least-largely restricted to the urbanites.
Primarily due to higher levels of education among women, a more conducive and accepting environment for women at work and the sheer economic need to earn more to lead a better life- more and more men do prefer working wives.
At the same time, it must be said that often the grass, as they say, looks greener on the other side. Ask a young couple struggling to bring up their children in a relatively unfamiliar place pretty much on their own. They are likely to say that it would be nice if she could give up her job- at least for a few years.
Likewise, the young man struggling to eke a living in a big city keeps dreaming of the time when he can earn more. One solution which readily presents itself is to marry a working lady with the reassuring thought that two incomes are better than one. Especially in times of economic crisis where one may get laid off due to reasons beyond their control.
I believe for better work/life balance, it is really a matter of compatibility between the couple. It doesn’t really matter whether the wife is working or not. Even with a working wife, people have run into a fresh set of problems, ranging from conflicting priorities, the need to “sacrifice” careers and hurt egos.
I guess it’s to each their own. Choose what suits you best but count your blessings and don’t look only at the negatives of a relationship- because there will always be some negatives in every relationship.
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This is Post No: 353 of the “A Step A Day” series : To provide perspective and provoke thought to facilitate self-development across a wide spectrum of issues- big and small- crucial for executive success.
People at Work & Play 
Hi Sir,
When we talk of working wives we tend to look at only familiar environment of women going for work in urban areas. There is in fact lot different world in rural India, where many women work on fields. So i guess it is not only about woring wives… i feel the question is more of spouses working in different fields with different timings, with conflicting priorities. In villeges both men and women work in the same fields and many a times they have their children as well with them. A similar situation in city might be of great desire for families where both spouses work together and they can also take care of their children’s needs! (Ideal situation!!)
Thanks, Gajanan for your comment. You have mentioned an “ideal” situation which many are striving for.