What is it about?
This chapter critically examines the idea of work–life balance, tracing its development and discussing concepts such as work–family conflict, enrichment, boundaries and family-friendly policies. It shows that the relationship between work and other areas of life cannot be understood as a simple balance between separate spheres. Particular attention is paid to how gender, social class, generation and other dimensions of inequality shape people’s experiences, and to the changes brought about by precarious work and digital technologies.
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Why is it important?
Work–life balance is often presented as a matter of personal organization and individual choice. This perspective can obscure the role of working conditions, organizational cultures, care arrangements and public policies in creating unequal opportunities. By adopting an intersectional and multidimensional approach, the chapter shows why effective responses must recognize the different resources and constraints people face, rather than expecting individuals to manage structural problems on their own.
Perspectives
We wrote this chapter to question some of the assumptions behind a widely used but often ambiguous concept. Our aim was to move the discussion beyond the search for an ideal “balance” and towards a fuller understanding of how work and other areas of life are intertwined. We also wanted to show that these relationships are shaped by power and inequality, and must therefore be addressed not only by individuals, but also by organizations, institutions and public policies.
Prof. Barbara Poggio
University of Trento
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Work-life balance and beyond: premises and challenges, January 2022, Edward Elgar Publishing,
DOI: 10.4337/9781788976053.00007.
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