Private Patriarchy’s Impact on Women’s Careers: Through Kaleidoscope Career Model Lens

by farzana ashraf and denise jepsen

In patriarchal societies where men have more power, women often face unfair treatment both at home and outside. Patriarchy is a social arrangement in which women are dominated by men through various practices of female subordination and male supremacy. Patriarchy is recognized as either public or private type. Public patriarchy is practiced in the public sphere (i.e., state, culture, paid work), and private patriarchy is practiced in the private sphere (i.e., household). In private patriarchy, women face various forms of oppression within their families due to discriminatory gender expectations, while their male counterparts are free from such constraints. Patriarchal families expect women to primarily participate in household activities such as cooking, cleaning and childcare. Women are usually discouraged from participating in paid work as such participation would require them to move in public and mix with the opposite gender. Although there is a significant body of research examining the impact of public patriarchy on women’s careers, yet the influence of private patriarchy on women’s careers is less explored.

This research looks at how private patriarchy affects women's careers using the kaleidoscope career model (KCM) lens. According to the KCM literature, the three parameters of authenticity, balance and challenge (the “ABCs”) are the central career issues that women face throughout their lives. Authenticity refers to being genuine and true to oneself. Balance and challenge refer to the pursuit of a work–life balance and a challenging career, respectively. KCM suggests that as women progress through different stages of their careers, their goals for authenticity, balance, and challenge change based on the roles and responsibilities they encounter. For instance, in early career most women seek challenges as they do not need to focus on achieving an appropriate work–life balance or self-actualization. Mid-career, when many women face difficulties due to pregnancy and child schooling, balance becomes their primary career need to achieve harmony in their lives. Late in their career when women’s desire to have a challenging career and a balanced life is often almost fulfilled, they feel the urge to seek authenticity.

By talking to 40 educated and professionally working women from the patriarchal context of Bangladesh, our research found that women’s experiences of private patriarchy forms three types of career attitudes that are consistent with the three KCM parameters of authenticity, balance and challenge. However, these women’s emphasis on their careers (referred to as “ABC”) do not consistently align with their career stages. Instead, women’s experiences of private patriarchy play a significant role in shaping their career priorities (ABCs) in a patriarchal context. Findings of our study thus dissociates the notion of ABC from progressive life stages.

We found that women who directly experienced private patriarchy prioritized authenticity in careers whereas women who encountered patriarchy indirectly through their mother’s experiences prioritized a challenging career. Furthermore, women who did not experience any private patriarchy were found to prioritize balance over other needs. Direct experiences of private patriarchy influenced women to seek personal fulfillment and happiness. These women prioritized their own well-being and sought out experiences and relationships that align with their authentic selves. Women free from the experiences of power imbalances within families or personal relationships placed greater value on meaningful relationships and connections with others. They strived to maintain a balance between their personal relationships and their professional pursuits. Witnessing private patriarchy indirectly motivated women to seek opportunities for personal growth and empowerment. They recognized the need to overcome gender-based obstacles and strive for greater self-determination.

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Article Details
Private Patriarchy’s Impact on Women’s Careers: Through Kaleidoscope Career Model Lens
Farzana Ashraf, Denise Jepsen
First Published January 23, 2024 Research Article
DOI: 10.1177/10596011241227263
Group & Organization Management

About the Authors

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Farzana Ashraf, formerly a senior lecturer of Business Administration at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), is a sessional academic at Macquarie University, Australia, where she is pursuing her PhD in Management. Her research concentrates on diversity and inclusion and the employee-organization relationship.

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Denise Jepsen is an organisational psychologist and Professor of Management at Macquarie Business School, Sydney, Australia. Her teaching and research interests include careers, organisational behaviour and human resources.