PENYESUAIAN DIRI PEREMPUAN BEKERJA MENINGGALKAN KARIR UNTUK RUMAH TANGGA

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT OF WOMEN WHO GIVE UP THEIR CAREERS FOR THE FAMILY

Perempuan yang bekerja berisiko mengalami konflik antara karir dan rumah tangga. Dalam menyelesaikan konflik ini, sebagian mengorbankan karir mereka. Hidup baru dengan peran tunggal sebagai ibu rumah tangga menuntut upaya-upaya penyesuaian diri. Dengan menerapkan pendekatan studi kasus, penelitian psikologi kualitatif ini mengkaji proses dan faktor-faktor spesifik yang mendorong perempuan karir berhenti bekerja dan bagaimana mereka beradaptasi pada hidup baru tanpa karir. Responden riset ini adalah perempuan lulusan perguruan tinggi yang pernah bekerja sebagai white collar worker. Melalui analisis tematik atas data wawancara semi-terstruktur ditemukan bahwa perempuan karir ini melepaskan pekerjaan karena permintaan anak, hambatan di kantor dan masalah kesehatan. Perempuan ini kemudian membutuhkan waktu untuk beradaptasi pada peran tunggal sebagai ibu rumah tangga. Variasi dalam durasi adaptasi bergantung pada pola aktivitas setelah berhenti bekerja.

Kata kunci: perempuan karir, berhenti bekerja, penyesuaian diri, work-family conflict

White-collar women workers are likely to experience work-family conflict. When they do, some sacrifice their careers in order that they can focus on raising their children and caring for their homes. They need to adjust to their new life as stay-at-housewives. Using the case-study approach, this qualitative psychological research examines processes, the reasons for and the adjustment after women employees’ decision to give up their jobs. Serving as research subjects were several women with university education who had been employed as white-collar workers. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interview data found that the reasons these women gave up their jobs included the request of their child or children, problems at the workplace, and health issues. They were also found to have needed the time to adapt to their new, single-role life that revolved around child rearing and homemaking. The duration of the adjustment period varied from person to person, depending on their patterns of daily activities.

Keywords: career women, work-family conflict, turnover intentions, adjustment