Meaning and Identity Implications of Age 30: Experiences of Women Professionals from India

Abstract Age is an important aspect that influences women’s career choices and identities. For employed women, age 30 is often associated with gendered discourses around reproductive time-lines, work–family conflict, stalling of careers or ‘opt-out’ from the workforce. However, age is often ignored in research on women’s careers as well as organisational diversity and inclusion practices. Through an interpretative study of corporate women professionals from India, this article examines the meaning and identity implications of age 30. Findings point to tensions and contradictions in social norms at the intersection of age and gender, and age 30 as a barrier or outer limit for participants’ realisation of strong career identities