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WORK AND FAMILY BOUNDARY FLEXIBILITY – INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS

D.V. Zaharia, A. Gheorghiu

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to explore some intergenerational patterns of bounday flexibility in the context of family – work interface. First of all, we explored how young women expectations regarding the flexibility of their future family and work boundaries were related to their parents’ willingness and ability to flex these boundaries. Furthermore, we investigated the differences between spouses in the ability and willingness to flex family and work boundaries. In order to test our hypotheses, we collected questionnaire data from 67 young women and their parents (67 mothers and 67 fathers). The young women assessed their willingness to flex their work and family boundaries in the future, while their parents assessed how willing and able they were to flex work and family boundaries over the last two decades. A first set of results showed that, within the same families, women were less willing to flex family boundaries, compared to their male spouses. We found no gender differences in the ability to flex family and work boundaries, or in the willingness to flex work boundaries. A second set of results showed that the willingness of young women to flex, in the future, their work and family boundaries was more strongly related to their mothers’ willingness and ability to flex these boundaries. In concordance to gender socialization hypothesis, young women seem to be more influenced by their mothers as far as work and family boundaries management is concerned, although fathers’ influence is still present. Results are discussed in the light of the slightly changing gender expectations.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2017/32/S11.062

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