“Are Professional Women “Opting Out” of Work by Choice?” Name Institution “Are Professional Women “Opting Out” of Work by Choice?” With the perceived acceptance of gender equality in the twenty-first century, women greatly identify with professional roles with many women securing better paying jobs in the employment sectors all over the world. Today, women??™s occupational aspirations have grown and become comparable to those of men. However, the trend has emerged of many women leaving their employment for other activities that are not related to their professional jobs. This has raised many questions on whether such women opt out of their work by choice or being forced by consequences.