To work or not to work?

I was surfing the net earlier today when I came across this.

I have been having the same kind of discussions lately with friends and with Amma- whether to work or not after marriage? From the article and the comments made by readers, the following questions emerged:

1) Why is it that only the woman is asked to make such a choice? Why not the man?
More or less, in Indian society, it is believed that the man is the breadwinner of the family and it is the woman's responsibility to raise the kids and to instill values in them. Well, I think a woman is emotionally programmed to take care of the kids, be patient with them and bring them up. It is a great role that has been traditionally assigned to women. It is a privilege to be able to mould someone's life and teach them the lessons of life. Of course, the child would have a better and fair understanding of life and its complexities if both his/her father and mother contributed equally in its upbringing. But, when it comes to staying at home with the kids and looking after them, women are naturally and instinctively better.

2) Why can't a woman have both - a career and a family life?
You can, but only if you are TERRIFIC! Having a full-fledged career and having to manage the household and the kids simultaneously does become nerve-racking at times. If you are lucky enough to have someone really dependable with whom you can trust the kids and who can also manage the house in case of emergencies, it is a pretty tough job. Of course, there are women who manage both, but ultimately it takes its toll on you.

3) Why does this question arise at all?
Women by nature are highly emotional. If they are career-oriented, they usually feel guilty after marriage for not being able to take care of the family and the home. On the other hand, modern-day women like to be better prepared for the challenges of life. What if my husband leaves me or passes away or he loses his job? - these are questions which many young girls think of before marriage, while contemplating whether to be a stay-at-home wife or a career-minded wife. And there is always the issue of financial dependence. Today's woman does not prefer being financially dependent on anyone. They also realise that it is a tremendous waste of talent and education to not work at all. Hence, the choice of making a decision arises.

I feel both these situations are extremes- either be a stay-at-home wife or work full-time. There are some in-between options too, like:
1) Pursuing a part-time job
2) Freelance work
3) Working from home
4) Taking up soft jobs such as tuitions instead of a full-time office job
5) Keeping oneself updated and active so that one can join the work force after the kids do not require staying at home
6) Making sound investments before getting married or before having kids so that you do not have to worry about being financially dependent

Of course, every case is different. One should decide upon her course of action based on her individual circumstances.