One of the buzz phrases of the 21st century is work life balance. This phrase is bandied about amongst human resources, management and business sectors and in recent hist
Don't believe the buzz, issues of work/life balance for working mothers.
One of the buzz phrases of the 21st century is work life balance. This phrase is bandied about amongst human resources, management and business sectors and in recent history has had much media attention. Articulated as work/life, work-life, work life or work and life balance it seems like an elusive golden chalice. This article explains the issues of work life balance for working mother's, such as the superwoman myth, and provides an alternative solution for a balanced life.
In Australian, Canadian, United States and British culture during the late 1980s and1990s the superwoman myth was ripe. Women were striking a blow at the belief that they had to be both working mothers and career women. Elloy and Smith suggest, 'Women increasingly expect to combine a paid job with motherhood, and, duel earner households have become more prevalent. As a result, few families now fit the traditional mould of the man as sole breadwinner and the woman as housekeeper and primary care-giver' (2004, p.17). Somewhere in the midst of the millennium hype the superwoman (as a catch phrase) dissipated, and the new buzz phrase work/life balance emerged.
Work/life balance, while the dream of most, is now incorporated in to many workplaces. The Accounting Office Management & Administration Report, states'"Longer working hours and unpredictable work schedules can all add up to less flexibility, less personal or family time, and ultimately more stress," explains Dr. Susan Black, president of the Toronto office of Catalyst, the research advisory organization that works with businesses to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women at work. "In addition to the high cost to individuals and families, there is also a significant business cost when work/life balance issues are not addressed"'(2004, p.10). But what is it? What is work/life balance? It is something that cannot exist while work is seen as something that is outside of life. While it is often something that is related to working mothers (as women are still often defined as the primary carer) it is an illusory goal that needs to be quashed. Michelle Rice writes, 'Up-and-comers at some top firms have been told work-life balance is bunkum because work is a part of life' (2004, p. 38). Rice is correct, work is a part of life and once that is accepted then balancing a whole life can be attempted.
Instead of work/life balance working mothers and all working women (and men) need to be realistic and employ time management into their lives. Having a full time career and being at work eight or nine hours a day, means you cannot be home for those eight or nine hours a day. Would you attempt two full time jobs? No, probably not. Being a full time mother and having a full time career is like attempting two jobs, and at some point one will need more attention than the other. If you realise this then you can decide about your career and family trajectories. Instigating time management and incorporating all elements of your life into one life - instead of the work/life segregation defined in the ideology of work/life balance, will allow you to see the full spectrum of all the types of work, leisure and family activities that you wish to include in your life. Then you will have a realistic and achievable path to a balance life.
