Work and Home: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences and Narratives of Employed Women on Domestic Work

Despite extensive social, economic, and cultural changes in recent decades, domestic work remains the primary responsibility and cultural norm for many women, including those who are employed. The personal and professional quality of life, satisfaction, and mental and social well-being of working women are significantly influenced by their social and familial obligations. The present study employs a phenomenological approach to investigate the lived experiences and narratives of employed women in relation to domestic work, their navigation of role duality, and its repercussions within this framework. The theoretical context is based on feminist interpretations of gender inequality, role conflict, and social roles. This research employs a qualitative interpretive phenomenological approach, utilizing in-depth interviews with 15 employed women from the public and private sectors in the city of Marivan (Iran). The women were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling. The results indicate that, for employed women, “domestic work as an inescapable responsibility” is a dual social identity. As a result, this paradoxical situation subjects them to “the responsibilities of dual labor and role strain.” The findings also emphasize that domestic work is imposed on women as a feminine obligation under the reign of “patriarchal traditions,” whereas employment is perceived as a deliberate and autonomous “tool for resistance.” Improving the conditions of women necessitates the realization of gender equality through gradual steps toward structural reform and the cultivation of a collaborative and egalitarian culture.