The recent changes of the family structure has sent unprecedented
changes on family patterns and the way people try to balance between family and
work life (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions, 2007). Several research studies on work-life balance have provided
an overview of the problems faced in putting together family responsibilities
and the workplace demands. The conceptualization of a work-life balance wherein
life directly means the "home", "responsibilities" and
"housework" is not after all a conclusive and comprehensive one
because it neglects important dimensions of work-life balance, thus the
measurement is rendered ineffective and intangible (Pichler, 2008).
One of the most affected segments of the work-life balance demands is the working mother category. With the increase of female employment, the demand of feminism, and the decline of industrialization led to the interest of work-life balance (MacInnes, 2006). In this regard, there is a high interest on how to maintain the work-life balance, which is attainable. Pichler (2008) noted that there are different concepts and approaches promoted for the purpose of combining work and life responsibilities.
According to Noor (2003),
work-life balance is directly linked to working time, social security,
migration, flexibility, leisure time, welfare, fertility, and migration. As
women were encouraged to have a place in the labor market, there is also a
direct problem to the way they could keep up with the demands of the workplace
and their responsibilities at home. With the social context of demand from
women to lead their homes, they are also encouraged to meet demands of the
workplace.
The purpose of this study is to
understand the work-life balance of working mothers. It will provide an
overview on how working mothers can keep up with the demands of the workplace
while keeping their home responsibilities properly met. With the aid of this
study, women will be guided on how they can keep their jobs satisfactorily
without giving up the value of their homes. There is a need for a clear
explanation and a plausible statement on how two aspects or sides of a working
mother’s life could be kept at a balanced level to avoid giving up one and
prioritizing another.
In this era of equality in the
employment opportunities, working mothers are often left without a choice, but
to give up their jobs to pursue their roles at home. This study will try to
provide recommendations on how working mothers can keep their jobs without
missing their responsibility at home. It will investigate important factors and
elements that are affecting the balance between the work and life
responsibilities of working mothers.
With the apparent questions
regarding the work-life balance among working mothers, it is necessary to
answer the question on the impact of different aspects of work and life
elements or aspects on the work-life balance of working mothers. The problem of
work-life balance among working mothers is a clear and already established
problem. The next question will be “what are the factors or facets that can
affect the way the problem of work-life balance among working mothers”. These
factors may have different value or level of impact on the work-life balance
among working mothers and it is necessary to understand how they create a
negative or positive impact to the same. To understand the problem of the
work-life balance among working mothers would demand a clear understanding of
the different prevalent and relevant factors contributing to the same.
This study on the work-life balance
of working mothers aims to accomplish the following:
·
To understand the rigors and
demands of keeping up with work-life balance among working mothers.
·
To identify the different
factors and facets that are positively and negatively contributing to the
work-life balance of working mothers.
·
To clearly outline resolutions
to properly meet these demands as noted in the above objective with the aim of
providing working mothers possible opportunities of meeting their work demands
and their responsibilities at home.
It is an established fact that women
still bear major responsibilities at home especially in child care regardless
of their employment. The hypotheses crafted will be assessing the positive and
negative correlations between determinants of the perceived work-life balance.
The following hypotheses will be tested in this study:
·
Positive perceived work-life balance is commonly linked to more
childcare support provided by the working mother to her children. The success of the work-life balance can be seen on how working
mothers provide for their children the support and care that they need even
with the demands of their work.
·
Balance of work and life is more demanding (even leading to negative
results) when children are still small or are younger. When children are younger, working mothers tend to be in the
negative slope on how to keep a balance between their work and their life – in
caring for their children. Childcare is a demand from infancy up to the early
nursery of children. As children get older, working mothers also get a better
perception on keeping a balance between their work and their responsibilities
at home.
·
The longer the working hours of mother, the more negative the
perceived work-life balance. When working
mothers work longer hours, they also tend to have a negative slope in meeting
demands of their home or life aspect. Due to their time spent in the workplace,
they are not able to provide for the care and support that their family needs.
·
The more conflict and demanding the work of working mothers, the
more negative the perceived work-life balance. When
working mothers are faced with tasks that are very demanding, the less time
they provide for their family or children. When mothers are relaxed in the
workplace, they are able to provide for the care and support that their family
needs. However, when their work demands too much attention, the less time and
care they can also give to their children.
References
MacInnes, J.
(2006). Work-life balance in Europe: A response to the baby bust or reward
for the
baby boomers? European
Societies, Vol. 8: 223-249.
Pichler, F. (2008) Determinants of Work-life Balance:
Shortcomings in the Contemporary
Measurement of WLB, Aberdeen, UK, Soc Indic Res Vol. 92: 449-469.
