Expectations

Published: Dec. 11, 2019, 11 a.m.

Hazel loves her job. She is very good at. But there is pressure on her to leave. \n \nAn impressive career has led Hazel to a perfect job at The University of Chichester: it\u2019s stimulating, she loves the students and she is widely respected.\n \nWith no age discrimination, Hazel could continue forever. And she would like to. Work is her very identity and the idea of pootling around the garden and joining a choir fills her with horror. But Hazel suspects friends, family and colleagues think it is time to go. \n \n\u201cThe expectation seems to be, from a lot of people, that I will give it all up, that my right job is to look after the grandchildren a bit, do a bit of painting and care for Phil, but that isn\u2019t me, it isn\u2019t me at all.\u201d\n \nWhen her husband, Phil, is diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s, the pressure escalates but Hazel doesn't see her future as just his carer.\n \n\u201cThe joy of Phil\u2019s and my relationship is that we\u2019ve always been independent of each other. I don\u2019t want to rush off and leave him, but I don\u2019t want the burden of having the life sucked out of both of us.\u201d\n \nShe feels judged for thinking this, for not abandoning her career to look after Phil, but if she were a man, would expectations be different?

Hazel has always been a clear-headed decision maker. She knew within 10 minutes of meeting her husband she should marry him. She even wants to write her PhD on decision-making. But this choice is proving impossible to make. What should she and what will she decide?

Producer: Sarah Bowen