Chapter 5: Career is Secondary to Pursuing Motherhood Through Assisted Reproductive Technology: Evidences from India

In India, having one’s biological child is given prime importance due to the social, religious, and cultural norms associated with the notion of motherhood. It is believed that giving birth to a child takes precedence in a married woman’s life at the expense of her career and productivity. This study explores the complex interplay between career aspirations and the pursuit of motherhood among the urban India women through assisted reproduction technology (ART), which entails psychological morbidity and biological stress. The landscape of India was evolving with educated women challenging gender roles amid societal expectations tying womanhood to motherhood. ART procedures entail new possibilities in reproductive health but also brings significant financial, emotional and biological costs. This study draws from gender role theory and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate how fertility intentions, attitude toward childlessness and decision to pursue ART are influenced by social norms, family support, and career priorities. The findings reveal, the career trajectories of women being subjected to subordination to familial and cultural imperatives revolving around childbirth. Women prioritized motherhood over professional advancement to escape the stigma attached to childlessness. This study calls for policy interventions to address gendered barriers to reproductive autonomy and advocates for workplace reforms that support the dual aspirations for motherhood and career. This study offers nuanced insights into the ongoing negotiation between contemporary aspirations and entrenched norms in urban India by situating women’s reproductive choices within broader sociocultural and economic dynamics.