Reimagining work but operating with a no off button: experiences of working mothers in India during the COVID-19 pandemic

IF 2.3 3区管理学 Q3 BUSINESS

Gender in Management Pub Date : 2024-02-23 DOI:10.1108/gm-08-2022-0283

Pooja Purang, Mahati Chittem, Haripriya Narsimhan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

This study focuses on the work from home experiences of professional, middle and upper middle class married women with children in India during the COVID-19-induced lockdowns. This study aims to examine the experiences of changing nature of work and gendered realities of work–life balance for working mothers while working from home during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight working mothers at three different time points during the lockdown in the city of Hyderabad in India.

Findings

A thematic analysis revealed changed work practices that required adapting, reinventing and reimagining new ways of working. This was time consuming albeit a satisfying experience for working mothers. At the same time, the blurring between home and work meant working mothers were operating without an off button.

Research limitations/implications

The findings show that the existing gender inequalities in sharing the domestic burden unravelled fast in the absence of support structures.

Originality/value

The authors give voice to the lived experiences of working mothers of managing both work and home and how they navigated challenges during the lockdown.

查看原文本刊更多论文

重新想象工作，但却没有关闭按钮：印度职业母亲在 COVID-19 大流行期间的经历

本研究的重点是印度有子女的专业、中产和中上层已婚妇女在 COVID-19 引起的封锁期间在家工作的经历。在印度海得拉巴市封锁期间的三个不同时间点，对八名职业母亲进行了半结构式访谈。研究结果专题分析表明，工作实践发生了变化，需要适应、重塑和重新想象新的工作方式。对于职业母亲来说，这是一个令人满意的经历，但却耗费了大量时间。与此同时，家庭与工作之间的界限越来越模糊，这意味着职业母亲在工作时没有关闭按钮。研究局限性/影响研究结果表明，在缺乏支持结构的情况下，在分担家务负担方面存在的性别不平等现象迅速蔓延。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Gender in Management Multiple-

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

8.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： Coverage (includes, but is not restricted to): ■Equal opportunities law ■Flexibility at work and part-time working ■Male/female working styles ■Networking ■Performance appraisal ■Sexual politics ■Entrepreneurship ■Cross-cultural issues ■Employee-employer relationships ■Sexuality and sexual orientation ■Career influences/determinants ■Glass ceiling issues ■Employment disparities e.g. pay Companies often fail to recognize or realize the potential of women professionals by failing to respond positively to women who have created successful managerial roles for themselves.