Challenges in balancing career and parenting roles: the case of women government employees at hossana town, hadiya zone, snnprs - Ethiopia

Abstract

The challenges of balancing career and parenting life are part of everyday reality for the majority of working women which arises from the overlap between the times allocated for employment and parenting responsibilities. A proper balance between career and parenting can be said to exist when there is good functional relationship between the two with a minimum of role conflict. Nonetheless, this is a feat that only a small minority is able to achieve. The objective of this study, thus, is to investigate challenges in balancing career and parenting roles. It is a cross sectional survey employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Questionnaire and interview and focus group discussion guides developed and used to generate data. One hundred sixty six women employees of government organizations in Hosanna town were randomly selected for the study; four indepth interviews, and three FGDs were also conducted. The data collected in such a manner were presented, discussed and analyzed using appropriate techniques and methods. The main theme that filters through the discussions was the fact that the majority of the respondents are unsuccessful in striking a balance between their professional and parenting lives. In addition, the conflicts that result from the imbalance in career and parenthood took its toll on women making their lives stressful and tensioned and depressed which is more likely to bring more imbalances in the relationship between the two aspects of their lives. This study recommends vigorous policy intervention, expanding coping strategies, higher officials support and further studies to address the problem.