Burdened Provider: Understanding the Societal Pressures Faced by Female Breadwinners in Supporting Their Families

Societal pressure experienced by female breadwinners in Digos City often manifests as increased emotional stress, financial strain, and pressure to fulfil these expectations while supporting their families. This study seeks to understand the lived experiences of female breadwinners, how societal expectations heighten their responsibilities, the financial and emotional challenges they face as the primary provider in the family, and the coping strategies they developed to sustain their families under constant pressure. This study used a phenomenological approach, which captures the lived experiences and perspectives of 14 participants selected through snowball sampling and who underwent an in-depth individual interview. The thematic analysis highlights the self-sacrificial life led by female breadwinners, including experiencing a heavy burden of responsibilities, sacrifices, deferred dreams, emotional, mental, and psychological stress, and the financial struggles and economic pressures of fulfilling their families' needs. Despite these burdens, participants show remarkable resilience, utilizing coping techniques like spiritual resilience, emotional and mental strength, family-centered aspirations, financial management, and work-life balance strategies. This study highlights the need for the government and private sector to engage in inclusive policy discussions and implement supportive programs that recognize the dual responsibilities of female breadwinners and promote gender equality within marginalized communities.