Work-life balance, especially as a budding young professional, is extremely important. While not only establishing one's brand and delving into the industry as possible, it is also essential to maintain a steady social life just to keep sane! However, seeing as we are discussing gender roles in the PR industry, it is very important to note the drastic differences in work-life balance between men and women.
Regardless of the fact that the "Mad Men"-esque days of the 1960s are long gone, women are still expected to maintain the household. As much as it should be an equal job split between husband and wife or mother and father, women continually assume the responsibility for such things as packing school lunches, doing laundry, cooking, and so much more.
It may seem like an easy fix... hire a nanny or encourage the idea of a stay-at-home dad. Yet, with an economy in the pits, a cleaning lady or babysitter cannot be included in most families' budgets, especially that of young professionals just starting a family. Furthermore, being a stay-at-home father does not appeal to most men and it may be hard to live on one income.
Ultimately, what needs to be assessed, is that men and women should be pulling both their weights in balancing work and life. Every person has their own responsibilities and, while it may be hard to juggle, it is important that everyone fits in the simple pleasures in life when possible.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that one answer is that men and women have to pull their weight at work and at home, the question of the way we express our commitment to work, family, and community is complex.
Like women, men who choose to stay home face challenges in terms of their acceptance in the traditionally female dominated community (schools, parks, playgroups, etc.). Like men, women who choose to work full-time face challenges in terms of how they are perceived at work and at home and in the community.
In this case, I think our culture is very conflicted about how to address our children. We talk about valuing family, but we have built structures that make it difficult to have families. Work days are too long, work sites are too dispersed, time off is perceived as time lost (rather than time gained with one's children).
Many a modern family shares the load well but the expectations, I think, are not in any way reasonable.
Perhaps what really should be assessed is how we shape the adult work-life. Can their be stages that include the family in their early years, ask for more time in the middle years of one's life, and then taper off as we care for our parents? Can we think about how many hours a person should work? Can we create a society that actually promotes commitment to work, family, and community?