Chapter 12 Balancing 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.