BALANCING MULTIPLE ROLES IN DUAL CAREER FAMILIES: SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN GENDER RESPONSIBILITY

J. Fernando; W. Jayatilake; D.W.A. Wickramasinghe

Authors

J. Fernando Executive, Nations Trust Bank.76, York Street, Colombo 2., Sri Lanka.
W. Jayatilake Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Department Agriculture Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
D.W.A. Wickramasinghe Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy, Department of Business Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The traditional duties of domesticity continue to be associated with the married women irrespective of their increasing contribution in the nontraditional gender activities such as income earning, causing them to bear a dual burden. In dual career families, both spouses are engaged in wage employment, outside their homes. Multiple gender role reconciliation is negatively affected by the situation and it disturbs the wellbeing of the individual, family, society and the work organizations. The paper analyses ‘how equitably dual career couples, who are employed in the well remunerated formal sector, reconcile multiple gender roles. The paper argues the existence of a greater inequality in gender responsibility, irrespective of the economic prosperity in the community. Women’s ability to invest time in self and career development has been significantly constrained and their subordination at home and at the employment is being perpetuated by the existing situation. Furthermore, the paper argues that gender equality is a critical factor that will energize social responsibility.

Keywords: Gender, Dual Career Family, Work Family Balance

For full Paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.lk

Author Biographies

J. Fernando, Executive, Nations Trust Bank.76, York Street, Colombo 2., Sri Lanka.

Executive, Nations Trust Bank.76, York Street, Colombo 2., Sri Lanka.

W. Jayatilake, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Department Agriculture Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Department Agriculture Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka

D.W.A. Wickramasinghe, Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy, Department of Business Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy, Department of Business Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka