The care of work : A survey on work-life-balance, gender equality and gender

Abstract "The Care of Work" is a study whose background comes from the problems surrounding work-life balance and equality that permeates social debates today. The problematic work-life-balance and gender equality are just as relevant today as they were 35 years ago. The aim of the study was to investigate whether or not men and women have a satisfactory work-life balance and if the organization they work for is doing something to make their life puzzles function. Last, but not least, the purpose is to see if gender equality is in the interest of the individual or the state. The study is based on work-life balance, gender equality and gender as the theoretical frames of reference. Eight respondents, four men and four women, from established IT companies were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. A hermeneutic approach was employed in the analysis, focusing on understanding and meaning in order to interpret the workers own experiences and perceptions. The analysis highlight that work-life balance is not easy to achieve and that the organization's implied or unspoken norms and values prevail among workers more so than those stated. The respondents do not consider equality a problem, but the divided interest in terms of the individual and the state regarding equality between the sexes and how this should be defined creates colliding interests. The consequences of these colliding interests are made visible within the organization which calls for a new concept; Care of Work