In "the age of disruption", an unprecedented number of individuals experience career interruptions. Although career interruptions are common, an interrupted career leads to wage penal-ties, position loss, and workplace discrimination. To explore the pervasive stigma of career inter-ruption, we had 46 interviews with women who experienced extended career interruptions. Our analysis highlights women's de-stigmatization through a positive reframing of their career interruptions. The three-stage positive reframing embraces ontological, emotional, and behavioral shifts throughout the process. Our work challenges the deeply ingrained assumption that views career interruptions as negative and uncovers a process that has the potential to help the stigmatized population reframe their experiences, contributing to the literature on career interruptions and stigma management.
