10/1/13
The ideal work-life balance is a universal concept that continues to elude women (and many men). Senior, boomer, and millennial women have all chased after the right formula.
Women often underestimate their desired support, while men overemphasize their contributions. Ultimately, when it comes to defining this ideal work-life balance, there’s no clear consensus. For marketers, addressing the work-life balance can provide a source of connection with consumers if they effectively convey the challenges or solutions in achieving this perfect balance.
First, the notion that women crave a perfect work-life balance is more relevant than ever. Working moms struggle to find the balance between work and home, often compromising quality time with their families, according to CareerBuilder.com. In fact, working moms cite balancing work and their children’s needs as their biggest challenge this fall, according to Chase Bank. More than a third (37%) are planning to make changes to their work schedules to accommodate their children’s needs.
It may not be adequate. CareerBuilder.com finds that 28% of moms say their children have asked them to work less and 24% spend fewer than two hours with their children each day during the workweek. Nearly two in 10 working moms (17%) say their jobs have negatively impacted their relationship with their children. More than one in 10 (12%) say their jobs have negatively impacted their relationship with their significant other.
Men understand the challenges women encounter in achieving this work-life balance. They say women have a harder time achieving it. While 19% of men say they either have extreme or a lot of difficulty in achieving a work-life balance, 27% of these men feel their wives face similar challenges in achieving a work-life balance, according to Esquire magazine. The largest number of men (31%) say this biggest source of difficulty for their wives is an inflexible job. Men, however, feel their greatest obstacle in achieving an ideal work-life balance is the tremendous pressure they feel to provide for their families. Fewer than one in four (22%) cite inflexible jobs.
Work flexibility is a key solution for those seeking a work-life balance. Six in 10 working moms (60%) have taken advantage of flexible work arrangements, according to CareerBuilder.
Another potential solution for women seeking a better work-life balance is making sure their significant other is more involved with housework and childcare. To this end, 33% of men say they now spend the same amount of time taking care of their children as their spouse does, says Esquire. Men in the Northwest are most likely to make this claim, while men living in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana are least likely. The largest number of men (28%) also say they spend equal time doing housework, while 22% say women spend “somewhat more,” and 13% say men spend “somewhat more” time doing so. Moreover, 65% of men say they rarely if ever hear frustration expressed to them about their involvement with childcare or housekeeping, compared with 82% of men ages 30-44 and 86% of men ages 45-59.
Men Embrace the ‘Having It All’ Concept
Nearly nine in 10 men (88%) think the concept of “having it all” is a realistic goal, according to Glamour magazine. And men want everything. To this end, men are more likely to say there isn’t one aspect they prioritize when it comes to having it all (34%) than to covet the relationship component (27%), freedom (21%), or kids (10%).
More than eight in 10 men (82%) have never prioritized work over a romantic relationship, and 69% don’t think their careers are hurting their love lives. In fact, only 21% of men say their careers define them, while 67% say it’s only fairly important, and 12% say it’s not important at all.
Meanwhile, 79% wish they had more time with their families, but 61% also wouldn’t sacrifice their salary for a better work-life balance. Most men would ask their boss for a more flexible schedule to spend time with their families, and 58% can imagine themselves as stay-at-home fathers.
Men and Women at Work
Women are more likely than their male counterparts to have never asked for a raise (53% vs. 40%), according to Elle magazine and the Center for American Progress. However, professional women are more likely to speak up. Some 58% of high-level executive women have asked for raises. Three in 10 women (31%) think they’d be paid more if they were male; 20% of men say they’d be paid less if they were female.
One in two women (51%) say they speak up “all the time” or “frequently” in meetings, compared to 58% of men.
Men and women are labeled differently at work. Women are more often called “compassionate” (33%), “polite” (13%), and “patient” (12%) than men. Meanwhile, men are more likely than women to be called “lazy” (233%), “aggressive” (127%), “impatient” (88%), and “difficult to work with” (80%). Indeed, 66% of women and 50% of men think professional women are scrutinized more harshly than men. More than six in 10 women (61%) say women help other women on the job, with middle management more likely than entry-level workers to provide this assistance (70% vs. 59%).
Two in three women believe “most women” are supportive of other women’s choices to stay at home or work. Most women (93%) and men (81%) say public policy should address workplace challenges, such as equal pay and paid maternity leave. Nearly half of mothers (48%) and fathers (45%) say they wouldn’t work outside of the home if they didn’t have to.
However, they feel employers divide parents and nonparents. More than one in four fathers (28%) and 14% of mothers think their bosses give them less work out of concern that they are too busy with family obligations.
Parents also put pressure on themselves. One in three moms (34%) and 50% of dads sometimes leave work incomplete to deal with family obligations. Nearly half of moms (47%) and 67% of dads have come home late from work, knowing it impacts their family obligations. And 47% of moms and 57% of dads say their jobs make it hard to do things with their family.
CONTACTS AND CONNECTIONS: Center for American Progress, Anne Shoup, 1333 H St., NW, 10th Fl., Washington, DC 20005; 202-481-7146; ashoup@americanprogress.org; www.americanprogress.org.
CareerBuilder.com, Jennifer Sullivan Grasz, 200 N. LaSalle, #1100, Chicago, IL 60601; 773-527-1164; jennifer.grasz@
careerbuilder.com; www.careerbuilder.com.
Catalyst, Sarah Dinolfo, 120 Wall St., 15th Fl., New York, NY 10005; 212-514-7600; info@catalyst.org; www.catalyst.org.
Elle magazine, Claire Gutierrez, Reporter, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019; 212-767-5800; cgutierrez@hfmus.com; www.elle.com.
Esquire magazine, Robert Scheffler, Research Editor, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019; 212-649-4287; rscheffler@hearst.com; www.esquire.com.
Glamour magazine, Nancy Gillen, Managing Editor, 4 Times Sq., 16th Fl., New York, NY 10036; 212-286-2860; nancy_gillen@condenast.com; www.glamour.com.
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