Examining the career plans and expectations of Indian women graduates of Australian university business programs

Australia provides life-changing educational experiences for large numbers of young, predominantly male Indian students. This paper explores how a cohort of fifteen Indian women value and plan to exploit their Australian study experience and university qualifications after graduation. This paper is therefore focused on issues of women’s access to higher education and professional careers in a country where such access has been traditionally limited. The socio-cultural context defining professional women in India is discussed in light of two competing trends. Firstly, India’s strong patriarchal tradition which discourages women from pursuing a career and, secondly, the emerging reality of a surging globalised economy in India with a growing professional recruitment shortfall. Claims that Indian women benefit from enhanced professional opportunities due to strong economic growth driving demand for local talent are considered. Data from individual interviews indicates that Indian women with Australian university qualifications in business professions experience conflicting pressures between traditional family and household roles and expectations, global career opportunities and culturally different notions of gender roles.