Work–Life Balance, Occupational Stress and Organisational Support Among Women Working in the Transportation Industry

The transport sector has traditionally been regarded as a male-dominated industry. For the past two to three decades, women have been largely absent from this industry. The new generation of women globally has changed the conventional patriarchal social order. This social change was initiated in India at the turn of the 20th century. Worldwide, women’s representation in the transport sector was less than 20% as of 2018 (International Labour Organisation, 2019, International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08)). Although in recent years their participation in this sector has increased slightly, this reflects how women are gradually entering male-dominated sectors and establishing their efficiency and potential. However, this transition has its issues and challenges. The purpose of the present paper is to examine the work-life balance and various occupational challenges faced by women working in the transport sector. By reviewing existing research and qualitatively analysing women’s experiences in the field, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing gender discrimination, occupational stress and work-life balance, and to propose ways to address these issues. It was an empirical study of 108 women bus conductors working in Chandigarh (UT). The study aimed to provide better support networks for advancing gender parity and work-life balance for women in this field. The results showed that there were gaps in their organisational support system, gender-based discrimination, moderate work-life balance, and evident organisational strain. The findings of the study lead us to the effective implementation of gender-negotiating work, improved organisational support and strengthened grievance resolution and management support to reduce occupational stress and improve work-life balance among women transport workers.