Characteristics of a good family life will vary from family to family as no two situations will ever be alike. I think the goal of a good family life is to insure the happiness and satisfaction of the individuals involved. Considering childcare, a good family life, to me, would pertain to much planning ahead to see how the accommodations will be made in order to pertain to individuals beliefs of what a good family life consists of. The individuals considering such a responsibility would need to come to agreements on many decisions and well as contingency plans before proceeding. This would mean that the individuals would plan most importantly for the financial decisions. Will the individuals take time off from work or just one of the individuals? For how long will this last? Is there a means for saving money for this time?
Also who will actually perform the childcare? It could be the parents, a family member or hired help and that these secure means of childcare.
To balance a career and a family life means several things. It first means that the happiness, satisfaction and well-being of all the involved individuals considered.
I personally believe that a good family life would be one organized around a two career family. Optimistically the family would balance their lives to have two incomes from each, involved parent. These parents would be able to work full time jobs and be financially secure. I think that one parent would need to take at least a year of maternity leave before entering back into the work field. This parent would also have the option of working a part-time job until the child is old enough to begin daycare/pre-school.
Apart from childcare, the family would have to consider the relationship of the parents. In order to keep with the idea of the success of a two parent family, the parents would need to plan time together to keep their relationship strong. These individuals would not necessarily need to be legally bound, the security of the situation is important.
Many factors can through this balance off kilter. Unexpected factors such as an unplanned pregnancy, or the loss of a job may be considered. A temporary or permanent handicap of one of the breadwinners may take it down to a one-income household. Also the fact that one will not completely know what will keep them satisfied in a situation until they are involved in it. Our needs and desires are perpetually evolving and can be very unpredictable.
The most important change that has occurred due to the changes in traditional gender roles, I believe, is the fact that there are no correct answers. Historically men and women knew their roles that society placed upon them and knew what that pertained to.
Today many individuals are faced with the question of whether or not they are doing the right things to pertain to a good family life.
Not all career fields have been able to make the shift, but according to our course documents there have been several significant factors the business managers have made for their employees. Though the federal government does provide for time off for some situations, it does not entail payment or extended amounts of time. The course materials suggest that the use of Traditional Flextime, Daily flextime and Telecommuting are ways of helping the employer to be more flexible in terms of an employee’s family needs. Traditional Flextime is when start and end times for work are chosen by the employee it may also include certain core hours determined by the supervisor and organization. Daily Flextime enables employees to vary their work hours on a daily basis. Telecommuting, though not the most satisfying means of flexibility, allows employees to conduct work off-site for some portion of their core hours and may be done at home or at a satellite office.
Support from family members, workers and neighbors are very important, especially because of family life’s tendency to be so unpredictable. The support of family members is very important, even if it just consists of an outlet or advice. Also other family members are usually reliable sources that you may trust when in an unplanned situation.
Fellow workers acceptance of your lifestyle is also important. They can also act as counseling agents that can give you an outsider’s perspective.
Programs such as at-work daycare are very helpful as well. These make your ability to keep a close eye on a child as well as getting work tasks done much more successful.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Blog #3
I currently do not experience carework in my family. When I was in high school however, carework was a very team-work centered task. Though not all of the members of my family contribute even amounts of time or equal amounts of difficulty level work, each part contributed is crucial in the functioning of the care. For example while both of my parents work full-time jobs, enroll their children in school, extracurricular activates, religious organizations and other obligations to family, friends and community members, they must delegate tasks to other members of the family (namely older children) to help in the functioning. Whether the task at hand is making sure someone gets to an obligation on time, or putting dinner on the table, tutoring, or doing household chores, each child accommodates to help in gaining successful results.
“Juggling Work and Care” brought up the fact that 7 out of 10 care-givers must give up their work at some point, in order to give the needed care. This is a very high number and I believe the most important fact faced in the UK. During one interview, the individual stated that, though he had a very “strange” schedule (he took an approximate 3 hour break during his workday to care for his children) his workplace peers understood that this was necessary and realized that if they came into the situation (which is statistically very likely) that they would also like to enjoy the same privilege. These sorts of policies would impact Americans well if adopted.
Another great point brought up during the course materials was the fact the “women’s work” is essential unpaid labor that is often times not taken into account. This is particularly important when looking at its transference from a personal issue into a public issue. Not only are women now more expected to play roles in the work force, they must also fulfill the role of the stay at home mother. On the Dateline portion of the course materials, one interviewee explained that though she has double the responsibility, it is much more difficult to give up the care-giving role as mother. She also explains that even if the financial pressure is not present, the social pressure is.
“Juggling Work and Care” brought up the fact that 7 out of 10 care-givers must give up their work at some point, in order to give the needed care. This is a very high number and I believe the most important fact faced in the UK. During one interview, the individual stated that, though he had a very “strange” schedule (he took an approximate 3 hour break during his workday to care for his children) his workplace peers understood that this was necessary and realized that if they came into the situation (which is statistically very likely) that they would also like to enjoy the same privilege. These sorts of policies would impact Americans well if adopted.
Another great point brought up during the course materials was the fact the “women’s work” is essential unpaid labor that is often times not taken into account. This is particularly important when looking at its transference from a personal issue into a public issue. Not only are women now more expected to play roles in the work force, they must also fulfill the role of the stay at home mother. On the Dateline portion of the course materials, one interviewee explained that though she has double the responsibility, it is much more difficult to give up the care-giving role as mother. She also explains that even if the financial pressure is not present, the social pressure is.
Blog #2
Sex segregation is the difference of treatment that exists between and individual of one sex over another. This exists in many job fields and although ASU has policy to try to avoid this type of segregation, it is proven that women have less job satisfaction as well as less income in many fields.
Patriarchy in this context is explained by the male dominance in the household, the workforce and other aspects of society.
In the radio report, “Moms Become Breadwinners As Job Losses Hit Men” the NPR host explains how segregation in wage gaps persist even as more men are unemployed by impacting women in more ways the just unemployment. Especially considering the hard economic times, men have lost more jobs than have women. This is because the fields that men are more apt to be involved with took the biggest impact of the recession. Although this is true, women still continue to make less than men (77 centers to every man’s dollar). Most shocking is the fact that the benefits are very uneven. Medical insurance, pensions and even paid vacations are typically tied to jobs held by men especially in area of work where unions are organized to help provide these benefits.
Because I live independently patriarchy does not specifically exist in my home. Whether the lawn needs to be mowed or the dishes need to be washed, the responsibility rests completely on myself. I do however find myself living under the stereotype threat. The stereotype threat is explained in our course materials as the identification of a gender role placed and accepted by an individual. Though I try not to let stereotypical beliefs affect my life, I do find it hard to believe in myself when I am faced off with completely equally qualified males in job competition.
Patriarchy in this context is explained by the male dominance in the household, the workforce and other aspects of society.
In the radio report, “Moms Become Breadwinners As Job Losses Hit Men” the NPR host explains how segregation in wage gaps persist even as more men are unemployed by impacting women in more ways the just unemployment. Especially considering the hard economic times, men have lost more jobs than have women. This is because the fields that men are more apt to be involved with took the biggest impact of the recession. Although this is true, women still continue to make less than men (77 centers to every man’s dollar). Most shocking is the fact that the benefits are very uneven. Medical insurance, pensions and even paid vacations are typically tied to jobs held by men especially in area of work where unions are organized to help provide these benefits.
Because I live independently patriarchy does not specifically exist in my home. Whether the lawn needs to be mowed or the dishes need to be washed, the responsibility rests completely on myself. I do however find myself living under the stereotype threat. The stereotype threat is explained in our course materials as the identification of a gender role placed and accepted by an individual. Though I try not to let stereotypical beliefs affect my life, I do find it hard to believe in myself when I am faced off with completely equally qualified males in job competition.
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