Sociological perspectives range from notions of Family as a harmonious instituti
ID: 1223805 • Letter: S
Question
Sociological perspectives range from notions of Family as a harmonious institution to a site of conflict. Feminist ones, in particular, claim it provides gender imbalance because of its socialization role. Use any perspective from your readings to apply to the case study below. Then critically analyze how its issues have implications for Gender in Family. CASE STUDY: WORK-FAMILY BALANCE & IMPLICATIONS FOR GENDER Dr. Lovelei Zee has 8 years in the public sector as a manager.She sees the possibility of being promoted to a top position of Director of the Department. However, her travelling time from home to work is impairing her time at home to carry out her responsibilities. She leaves her home at 6:00 am, in a Caribbean town to travel 50 kilometres to the capital city. She arrives at work at 7:30 am.She does not see her 7 year-old son leave for the neighbouring school, as her household help arrives in time to supervise his departure in a car pool. On occasion, when his father is not engaged in his work, he takes him to school. Dr. Zee leaves work very often at 5:00 pm and arrives home between 6:45 pm and 7:00 pm, due to traffic. Her work responsibilities overlap at home because she is often taking care of emergencies on her smart phone or tablet.As a result, her home responsibility time is often reduced. Dr. Zee is beginning to feel overwhelmed and guilty. She remembers her parents' desires for her to be great mother and wife. Of deep concern to her is that she spends less and less quality time with her son: she often just sees him tidy up and go to bed; she rarely has fun time with him, reading and chatting; therefore, she senses he is becoming negatively affected by this situation. She notes that her husband, Mr. Zee, Engineer, rarely gives up his time to share home responsibilities, he emphasises his work responsibility is his priority. In addition his attitude hardly encourages her to explore her ambition. Therefore, Dr. Zee has become convinced that her personal dilemma is increasing. She keeps it to herself for fear that communicating it with her husband may end up with a resolution that she would have to give up her job. When the thoughts of her dilemma do not go away, she decides to discuss the matter with her HR Director. Three major reasons were clear to her why she did not want to give up her job. One, she likes it very much; and two, she feels it is very important that a woman nurtures economic independence in her life; and three; she believes her investment in higher education would be wasted. When Mr. Argon the HR Director and Dr. Zee meet, he immediately tries to reduce her fears. He shares that their Ministry is in the early stages of offering family friendly options, to which both Government and Trade Unions have agreed. To avail oneself of these options one negotiates with one's immediate team and supervisor.Therefore, Dr. Zee felt empowered when Mr. Argon offered her the list below from which she may choose any proposal she desires. Her hopes are lifted. Which will she choose? . 1. PART TIME WORK:Workers are contracted to work less than the basic full-time hours, which affects benefits and the pay package 2. FLEXITIME: Workers have the freedom to work in any way they choose outside a set of core hours established by their employer 3. JOB SHARING:One full-time job is split between 2 workers who work out their shifts between themselves, which affects benefits and the pay package 4. SHIFT SWAPPING: Workers work out shifts amongst themselves but still ensure that all shifts are covered 5. HOME WORKING: Workers spend all or part of their week working from home or somewhere else away from their employer's premises. ............................................................................................................................ The questions below are to serve as guides to your thinking. Your contribution will imply that you have dealt with them. 1.What is a maximum issue? What is a minimum one? 2.Which perspective is appropriate to apply to these issues? Why? 3.How do you feel about the case? What does it tell you about gender roles in the 21st century? 4.Which option would you encourage Dr. Zee to choose? State briefly why? Post in 2-12 line paragraphs with citations as necessary. Question or comment on each other's decisions with experience andscholarly data, if necessary, add some humour.
Explanation / Answer
1. Dr. Zee is in dilemma in choosing between her carrier and her life as a mother and wife. If she continues to prioritize her ambitions and career, she may end up losing her husband and her son while if she quits her job, she will ultimately sacrifice her desires.
2. Feminist perspective applies here as it provides gender imbalance in the nature of its socialization role. Note that Dr. Zee would not have faced these conditions if she was a man and she would then have played the role of a father quite comfortably. It is the gender issue at home and in society that keeps the pressure mounting on the mother.
3. The role of women in this century has been phenomenal. Women labor force participation rate increased from 37 percent in 1960 to 60 percent in 1999 in the US. It remained high in 2013. Access to education, availability of white-collar jobs, availability of time at home and the exigency to have a second source of income may have contributed in this upswing to a large extent.
The same can be applied in this case. Dr. Zee does not want to give up her job as she likes it very much and feels it is very important that a woman nurtures economic independence in her life. In addition she believes her investment in higher education would be wasted.
4. She must choose FLEXITIME where she would have the freedom to work in any way as decided by her. This is so because then she would let herself free for his son for most part of the day. She can work from home or while travelling and would be able to spend quality time with him and her husband.