Predicaments of Unmarried Career Women

Sakai, Minako

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-05954-4_4

Minako Sakai⁴

Part of the book series: Gender, Development and Social Change ((GDSC))

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on unmarried Muslim career women in Indonesia and other Muslim-dominant countries. Some are turning to Muslim match-making or are lured into considering polygamy. It highlights that a professional career path for Muslim women based on education and work opportunities alone has not altered the necessity to become a wife and mother to fulfil the expectations around gender roles in Islam. Being married and raising a family remain a higher priority than establishing a professional career. This chapter draws on media studies and narratives of Muslim women, showing that unmarried women are struggling to be socially and religiously accepted in society. Individualistic career choices do not guarantee the subjective wellbeing of educated Muslim women.

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Minako Sakai

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Sakai, M. (2022). Predicaments of Unmarried Career Women. In: Women Entrepreneurs and Business Empowerment in Muslim Countries. Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05954-4_4

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05954-4_4
Published: 27 September 2022
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-05953-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-05954-4
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