Cefskap och familjeliv - en kvalitativ studie om kvinnliga chefer i socialt arbete

Abstract

This essay is a qualitative study whose aim is to see how to find a good balance between family life and managership. The result could give concrete proposals on how help can be designed to prospective female managers. The study is based on interviews with eight female managers. The interviews have been inspired by the narrative approach with the focus on how these women have tried to find a balance between management and family life and which obstacles they faced and the support they have had.

The results of the study has shown that the support that the woman has been given by their spouse / partner has been one of the best and most important support for her to full fill her mission as being a manager as well as a mother. The study has shown that the role expansion theory of multiple roles has been an analytical tool to understand their situation. A network's support has also been an important factor. The network has helped and supported the woman and created a balance in family life and working life. Also children have played an important roll as they set limits for employment and thereby create a balance between work and family life.

The study also revealed that work organization as well as organization of work can do much to help female management. Important change to receive favourable results have been, flexible hours, technology that allows work from home, a mentorship and /or support within management as well as a clearly pronounced change of attitude within the organizational level towards finding it an advantage to have both men and women who are parents and managers. This is made possible by requiring reasonable working hours, streamlining by considering how to add hours and meeting times. It is also important that both words and deeds honour those who have been at home on parental leave and that such leave is considered as a valuable experience for work and management.