Work Family Border Theory Literature Review

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Literature review Introduction Many changes in the industries and workplaces have changed and affected the work and personal lives. These changes have risen in recent years as a result of large numbers of working people and the entry of more women in the labor force. Women used to take care of their families and children and men used to work. However, nowadays most women work and share their duties with men in different organisations and at different job levels. For example, a working woman needs to both fulfill her duties as a wife, a mother and a daughter in the family, and also take care of her duties and responsibilities at her workplace. In some cases working, especially for women who are married and have young children, could impact negatively on children’s care as the mother is unable to be with her kids all the time. For example, Grove and …show more content…

The outcome of interest in this theory is work-family balance, which refers to 'satisfaction and good functioning at work and at home, with a minimum of role conflict' (Clark, 2000, p. 751). It also differs from boundary theory in that its definition of borders encompasses not only those psychological categories but also tangible boundaries that divide the times, place and people associated with work versus family." (Desrochers & Sargent) According to Clark (2000), work-family border theory "explains how individuals manage and negotiate the work and family spheres and the borders between them in order to attain balance. Central to this theory is the idea that 'work' and 'family' constitute different domains or spheres which influence each other…Given their contrasting purposes and cultures, work and home can be likened to two different countries where there are differences in language or word use, differences in what constitutes acceptable behavior, and differences in how to accomplish tasks" (p. 750-751). 2. Family stress