Do I quit journalism or maintain my marriage?

Do I quit journalism or maintain my marriage? According to Monicah Kagori, a counseling psychologist, this is a struggle that many female journalists, and indeed other women in equally or more demanding professions, have to battle.

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The misconception that society often has of women in the limelight does not help make things better.

According to the counseling psychologist, women have become actively engaged in the media industry as a career – a source of income to feed their families. This choice, however, has a huge impact on their family life.

“A large number of women in demanding careers who got into their professions before marriage eventually have to quit their jobs or branch into alternative fields in order to keep their families,” says the counselor.

She adds that finding a suitable balance between work and family life is such a challenge that often brings real consequences, significantly affecting the quality of family life and career attainment.

More often than not, they feel like they have to choose one or the other in the long run.

Ms Kagori notes that some of those challenges are due to inflexible working hours, night shifts, lack of time or attention for the family, being misunderstood by the spouse in question, frequent travel and, for some, witnessing trauma and disaster in their line of duty.

All this puts a toll on them and, as a result, they become vulnerable to physical, emotional and psychological injury.

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Ms Kagori notes that it’s unfortunate that most of them realize they have developed psychological problems such as depression, anxiety or even suicidal ideation way down the road.

Others lose their marriages as a result of the platforms they turn to in order to ease the pressure. In extreme cases, some become alcoholics or choose some other form of substance abuse.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Evewoman.co.ke