Cambridge University professor of empirical sociology Jacqueline Scott has discovered that support for gender equality is declining, with both men and women now believing that the family will suffer if a woman works full time. According to Scott, the 'shine of the super mum' is wearing off, and 'the idea of women juggling high-powered careers while also baking cookies and reading bedtime stories is increasingly seen to be unrealisable by ordinary mortals'.
Scott has found that fewer people now believe that the family doesn't suffer if a woman works full time:
- 2002: 46.5% of women, 42.2% of men
- 1998: 51.0% of women, 45.9% of men
- 1984: 50.7% of women, 51.8% of men
Basing her conclusion on analysis of social attitudes over three decades, Scott says that "When it comes to the clash between work and family life, doubts about whether a woman should be doing both are starting to creep in".
Scott's report recommended that further investigation be done into why this change in attitude is occuring - whether caring for the family is still seen as women's work, or whether people see no practical alternative to women taking responsibility for home life. And it seems that the next generation of workers still expect women to do the bulk of the housework. As Scott says, "We are still educating to confirm a gender role division that people thought was eradicated 25 years ago".
Women's right campaigners the Fawcett Society say that there needs to be 'wholesale transformation' in the workplace, with a push towards extending flexible working and childcare arrangements. The charity's campaigns officer, Kat Banyard, says that men and women are still 'straightjacketed by gender stereotypes' and concludes that business won't benefit until discriminatory attitudes are challenged, all roles are made flexible at every level, and we get rid of our long working hours culture.
So has it been a case of women trying to have their cake and eat it? Scott insists that women shouldn't think that 'the game is up' in terms of having both a career and a family, but it's really up to employers to ensure that it is possible.
Comments (2)
Posted by Gary Ashworth | August 18, 2008 11:10 AM
Post by Gary Ashworth
With many women still feeling they have to choose between a career or a family, businesses are missing out on potential stars.
In order to combat this, we need to start promoting female success stories and encouraging women to take a more active role in the development of younger female workers.
But all too often, women are reluctant to champion the cause of their female colleagues. Perhaps this is because they have fought hard to get where they are, and promoting the skills and strengths of someone else could threaten the security of their own position.
Yet if women want to make having both a family and a career ubiquitous, they need to use their wings to nurture, as well as soar.
Posted on August 18, 2008 11:10
Posted by Rosie | August 18, 2008 2:47 PM
It's a difficult choice and a dilema that women must struggle with. I know I do.
I want to work, but I also want to be with my kids. I want to be a part of their life, understand what they are up to and at the same time not worry and be stressed about work.
I dream of being a full time house mother, but when I was I dreamt of working.
I run my own business at the moment, but I dictate my own hours I find myself stressed and pressured to be working non-stop.
I think I just need a holiday :)
Posted on August 18, 2008 14:47