Women refuse to put career first

YOUNG women are refusing to give up their private lives for their careers - and are aiming for the Holy Grail of a better balance of work and social life.

A study for women's network WoMen'up found that women from "Generation Y" - born between 1980 and 1995 - were not ready to sacrifice everything else for career progression and preferred to live full lives.

WoMen'up president Emmanuelle Duez said the economic slump had reinforced the tendancy as women wanted their social life to counterbalance insecurity at work where 100% effort was no guarantee of keeping a job.

Although the Generation Y women had seen how other women had built successful careers and reached the top in business, they were not tempted to follow their methods and said that was working to male norms.

However, they still wanted full careers but wanted first of all to be financially stable before "having a family".

Two years ago, a study for Elle magazine said that 44% of working women between 22 and 29 were tempted by becoming housewives and staying at home.
Photo: Yuri Arcurs - Fotolia.com