When Being an Educated Housewife Feels Hard — What the Research Says

Well-Being Challenges of Educated Housewives in Malaysia

1. What the Study Looked At

Researchers wanted to know what everyday life is like for educated women who stay home full-time to care for their families.
They focused on women in Malaysia who:

• have a PhD or high level of education

• are full-time housewives

• have at least one young child under 12
  They talked with seven women to understand their real feelings and experiences.

The goal was to see not just what they do every day, but how their well-being is affected physically, emotionally, and socially.

2. What They Found

The study found three big kinds of challenges these women face:

1) Physical tiredness
Even when they have education and skills, housework and childcare can feel heavy and exhausting. There are many tasks, little rest, and constant movement.

2) Psychological struggles
Many women felt underappreciated and worried that what they do isn’t valued. They sometimes felt stress, doubt, or loss of identity because their education didn’t match their daily role at home.

3) Social pressure and isolation
Some felt lonely or alone because they didn’t spend much time with adults outside the home. Society may expect educated women to work outside, and when they don’t, they can feel misunderstood or overlooked.

These pressures are not signs of weakness — they come from big expectations and daily demands.

3. What This Means for Everyday Life

Even if a woman has a high degree, being home with children and running the household can still feel very tough — especially when:

• the work never stops

• people don’t notice or thank you

• few adults are around to talk to

• you want something more than being stuck in routine

This mix can make stress, loneliness, and self-doubt grow slowly.
It might not feel like a “problem” everyone sees, but it is real for many.

It also shows that staying at home doesn’t mean life is easy — it just means the work is not always visible to others.

4. Small Things That Can Help

You don’t have to fix everything at once. Here are tiny habits that can help you feel a bit lighter and more supported:

Take a short break yourself
Step outside for 5 minutes. Look at the sky or take one deep breath.

Talk to another adult — even briefly
Send a short message to a friend or family member. A small connection makes a big difference.

Say a kind sentence to yourself
Quietly think: “I’m doing my best.”
Simple words can calm the mind.

Move gently for a minute
Stand up, stretch, or walk slowly around the room.

Notice one small win
Name one thing you did today — even something tiny like making tea or helping with homework.

These small moments do not solve everything, but they help your body and mind feel seen, grounded, and calm.

Reference

Amran, I. N. A., & Saari, Z. et al. (2025).
Exploring the Well-Being Challenges of Educated Housewives: A Case Study in Malaysia.
International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(6).
https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i6/25544 ResearchGate