A Phenomenological Study on the the Experience of Compromising Career Aspirations of a Highly Educated Working Mother in Midlife Transition

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore the essence of career compromise experiences as perceived by midlife transition, highly educated working mothers in their efforts to reconcile work and family life, by examining the internal experiences they undergo during these career compromise situations. Methods To achieve this, ten midlife transition, highly educated working mothers who have experienced career compromises were selected as research participants. Interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological research method. Results The analysis revealed major themes including the relentless pursuit to realize high career aspirations, the struggles of balancing work and family life making the pursuit challenging, the losses and gains experienced in the slowed pursuit, and the experience of moving at one's own pace and direction through the process of life integration. Participants continued their relentless efforts to fulfill their high aspirations but faced dilemmas due to difficulties related to family, career, physical, personal, and social factors, as well as comparisons with peers, all arising after marriage and while trying to balance work and family life. Conclusions In coping with these, participants experienced both losses and gains in their work and family life through career compromises. Upon reaching midlife-transition, they underwent a process of integrating domestic gender roles, and the ideal versus the reality of their careers, thereby expanding their perspectives on life and forming new career aspirations.