Chapter 12Balancing Work And Family Life

Social Meanings of Money Dual-Earner Marriages Balancing Demands of Work and Family Balancing Work and Leisure Time with Family Barriers to Leisure

Effects of Employment on Women

Positive: Enhanced psychological well-being. Greater sense of independence. Increased social contacts. Increased power. Escape from exhaustion of child care.

Effects of Employment on Women

Negative: Role overload - not enough time/energy to

meet demands of various roles. Role conflict Role strain - can’t do it all. Risk of sexual harassment.

Dual-Earner Marriages and Men

Advantages: Relieved of sole responsibility to be economic

support of family. Freedom to have closer relationship with

children. Opportunity to experience happier wife.

Dual-Earner Marriages and Men

Disadvantages: Feeling threatened if wife earns higher income. Being expected to do more housework/child

care.

Dual-earner Marriages and Marriage

Factors: The greater the job satisfaction, the happier the

marriage. If husband supportive of wife’s employment

and helps with housework/child care, marriage improves.

Social Meanings of Money

Self-esteem Power Security Love Conflict

 Types of Dual-Career Marriages

HIS/her - husband's career takes precedence. his/HER - wife's career takes precedence. HIS/HER - careers of both wife and husband

are given equal status. THEIR CAREER - wife and husband have the

same career

Effects of Dual-Career on Children

Children do more housework. Have less supervision than children who have

one parent at home. Have less traditional gender role attitudes.

Three shifts

1. Workplace shift

2. House care/childcare shift

3. Emotional expense of dealing with family issues.

Balancing Work and Family: Strategies

Superperson strategy Cognitive restructuring Delegation of responsibility Planning and time management Role compartmentalization

 Functions of Leisure Time

Relieves work stress Facilitates social interaction Fosters self-expression/personal growth Enhances emotional well being.

Barriers To Leisure

Demands of the workplace. Materialistic values - The more we have, the

more we want, so the harder we work. Traditional gender roles - Women have

hobbies related to household tasks and take responsibility for family holidays.

Barriers To Leisure

Leisure as a commodity - Leisure activities cost money that families may not have in their budgets.

Leisure time is used as a means to reduce stress and has become a job in itself.