PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING WOMEN’S PREFERENCE FOR CAREER AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE OVER EARLY MARRIAGE

AUTHOR – DIVYA KIRUBA M, STUDENT AT THE TAMILNADU DR AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, TARAMANI, CHENNAI

BEST CITATION – DIVYA KIRUBA M, PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING WOMEN’S PREFERENCE FOR CAREER AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE OVER EARLY MARRIAGE, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (1) OF 2026, PG.1045-1052, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

Abstract

The present study explores the psychological and social factors influencing women’s growing preference for career development and financial independence before entering marriage. With rising education levels, urbanization, and exposure to diverse life choices, many women now prioritize personal and professional growth over traditional expectations of early marriage. This research aims to identify key psychological motivators—such as autonomy, self-esteem, self-actualization, and economic security—that shape women’s decisions in this context. Drawing on theories like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-determination theory, and social role theory, the study examines how self-identity and emotional independence contribute to this evolving trend. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to unmarried working women aged 20–35 years in urban and semi-urban settings. Findings indicate that financial stability, self-worth, and emotional maturity significantly impact women’s attitudes toward marriage and career timing. The study concludes that the shift reflects empowerment and conscious self-definition rather than rejection of marriage, emphasizing the role of psychological growth and autonomy in modern women’s life choices.

Keywords: Women empowerment; financial independence; autonomy; self-esteem; self-actualization;  career  preference;  early  marriage;  psychological  motivation; self-determination theory; social role theory.