A phenomenological approach to understanding work-nonwork conflict among female academics

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Date
2003
Authors
Petherick, Heather
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Management
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management, 2003
Abstract
For nearly two decades research on the issue of work-nonwork conflict has been conducted from the perspective of competing demands and limited time. Still, our knowledge is not complete. In an attempt to gain a richer understanding of the perceptual experience of work-nonwork conflict, and thus provide a more informed basis from which future research strategies may be developed, this study employed a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female academics who were married with children. The findings gave rise to nine structural descriptions that conveyed how participants perceived work-nonwork conflict. The structural descriptions were divided into two overarching themes, institutional and individual, based on the context of their influence. Moreover, the research offers a characterization of work-nonwork conflict based on the frequency and intensity of conflict. I theorize that an individual’s perception of work-nonwork conflict will change over time. Implications for the academic institution, the individual, and for future research are presented.
Description
viii, 90 leaves ; 29 cm.
Keywords
Women in the professions , Work and family , Women college teachers , Women -- Employment -- Social aspects
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