Work-life balance: working for whom?
by Caroline J. Gatrell, Cary L. Cooper
European J. of International Management (EJIM), Vol. 2, No. 1, 2008

Abstract: Work-life balance policies are important in relation to employee stress levels. This paper examines work-life balance and flexibility through the dual lens of gender and the body. The paper observes how notions of 'flexibility' are applied differently to mothers and fathers. We observe how social expectations about professionally employed mothers and fathers, and work-life balance, are gendered. Men may thus be discouraged from working flexibly, while mothers who work long hours may be criticised. We argue that the pressure to organise work-life balance, according to embodied and gendered social norms, is a cause of stress to both fathers and mothers who are employed at a managerial level.

Online publication date: Wed, 30-Jan-2008

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