SS430 Sociology of work Evelina Panayotova, Ph.D. Unit 3 Balancing Work, Family and Our Personal Lives

Overview In this unit, we analyzed the issues faced by adults as they seek to balance work with our personal lives. We discussed important issues that nearly all men and women face: pressures to prioritize work over our personal lives; and pressures to prioritize family over work. We also built upon what we've learned about gender and discussed how men and women experience these pressures in gendered ways. Finally, we discussed the nature of "caring" or emotionally engaged work, and how this type of work blurs the lines between work and care-giving. Tonight, we will discuss the role of care in society, as a working activity as well as a cultural value.

Concepts you Must Know Family-friendly workplace policies: "Programs sponsored by the organization designed to help employees balance work and family roles. Including but not limited to: health or stress management programs; Family and Medical Leave Act; alternative work arrangements; and dependent care support" (Grandey, 2001, p. 145). Third Shift: As a result of the time bind experienced by U.S. families, the "third shift" has evolved, which is the time parents spend attempting to repair and recover from the consequences of their overworked lives.

Concepts you Must Know The Time Bind: According to Hochschild, the time bind refer to parents working increasingly more time in order to support their families, leading to added stress at home, which drives parents to seek even more work time, to escape home tensions.

Question 1 In what ways is the United States facing a "care deficit"? In what ways is the care deficit a global problem? Do we indeed have a care deficit?

What are the main factors? Both parents working Primary care-taker working away from home Aging population Mobility – children live far from parents Longer working hours

Educational Attainment of Direct Care Workers

Hours, earnings and income of direct care workers,

Question 2 What are some ways to increase the supply of care in our society? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies?

Within the family Women stay at home moms Grandparents helping Extended family helping

Social policy solutions Extended maternity/paternity leave Company-sponsored day care solutions Affordable child care by state/federal support

Question 3 Is caring work undervalued? If so, how would you increase the value of this activity?

Median hourly earnings in child day care services 2004 OccupationChild CareAll Industries General and operations managers $23.78$37.22 Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program $16.01$17.18 Child, family, and school social workers $13.80$16.74 First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers $11.70$14.59 Preschool teachers, except special education $9.34$10.09 Bus drivers, school $9.28$10.18 Office clerks, general $9.12$10.95 Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners $8.04$9.04 Cooks, institution and cafeteria $7.93$9.10 Child care workers $7.34$8.06

Question 3 continued When we talk about policy solutions we have to wonder -- why has the market - the private enterprise - not provided a solution if there is such demand? Would part of the reason the arrangements are different in this country have to do with the devaluation of care work? Can we get some clues from “How Mothers’ Work was “Disappeared” by Crittenden in your text.