Other1 min read

Radhika Apte questions if marriage really holds back women's careers

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The ongoing debate over whether domestic milestones hinder professional growth misidentifies the true source of burnout. Radhika Apte argued that modern workplace cultures systematically fail to respect personal boundaries by treating employment as ownership over an individual's time. She specifically objected to the routine practice of employers contacting their staff late at night or over weekends. Consequently, she urged a cultural shift that protects personal time for all workers, rather than framing boundaries as special concessions.

Key points

  • Demanding workplace cultures that require round-the-clock accessibility hinder women's ca…: Demanding workplace cultures that require round-the-clock accessibility hinder women's careers far more than marriage or motherhood.
  • Personal time must be treated as a standard boundary for the entire workforce rather than…: Personal time must be treated as a standard boundary for the entire workforce rather than an exclusive concession for caregivers.
  • Being employed by a company should never equate to an organization owning an individual w…: Being employed by a company should never equate to an organization owning an individual worker's personal time.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Does marriage really make it harder for women to pursue their careers? Actor

Radhika Apte believes the question itself needs to be reconsidered. In a recent conversation with Kamiya Jani on Curly Tales, she said the challenge is not necessarily marriage or motherhood, but a work culture that expects people to remain available at all hours.

Radhika pointed out that having responsibilities or interests outside work is not exclusive to married women or mothers. Every employee, she argued, has a personal life that deserves time and respect.

9 Feb 2026 | 17:28

What advice would you give your younger self about work or finances?

“Everybody has a life outside work”

When Kamiya asked whether marriage comes in the way of a woman's career, Radhika questioned why the discussion is often centred on marriage and children. “So that's the thing, no? Marriage or children doesn't have to be marriage or children. What if I'm a single woman? What, I can't have a life or what?” she said.

She explained that the issue is not simply about women needing flexibility because they…

Other