The topic that has been selected is work-life balance among working
parents. Work-life balance can be defined as the individual perception
that nonwork and work activities are compatible and facilitate growth
in accordance with the current life priorities of the individuals
(Gragnano et al., 2020). It can also be defined as the act of maintaining a
healthy and positive balance between the professional and personal
life of an individual (Pahuja, 2017). The work-life balance among the
working parents refers to the act of working parents to efficiently and
effectively manage work as well as family responsibilities at the same
time. The existence of a work-life balance for working parents plays a
significant role in reducing stress-related outcomes such as emotional
exhaustion, depression, anxiety, as well as psychological distress. On
the other hand, the lack of work-life balance for the working parents
may negatively affect their concentration at work, give rise to stress,
and result in the negligence of children and family members at home
(Pahuja, 2017).
The social science lens has enabled me to understand the topic in
greater detail. Viewing the topic from the social science lens has
allowed me to understand that the role of work is constantly changing
owing to the increasing social demands as well as economic conditions
(Pahuja, 2017). The work roles are becoming more competitive and
stressful. In order to stay ahead in the competitive era, the working
professionals have to work harder and spend more time at their
workplace. Parents are one of the pressure groups in the workforce. In
recent times, both parents are working professionals in most of the
cases. Managing the increasing demands of work, issues in the family
and social life is increasingly becoming challenging for working parents.
The multiple jobs, weekend work, and extra hours are all having a
significant impact on the working parents (Pahuja, 2017). The
hardworking parents mainly face difficulties in achieving a work-life
balance. It limits them from interacting much with the family members
and fulfilling their responsibilities towards the family and society at
large. The lack of balance also affects their quality of work. So, working
parents look for flexibility in the workplace.
The topic analysis can be significantly strengthened or expanded with
the use of more than one lens. For instance, through the historical lens,
the percentage of working parents who struggle to achieve a work-life
balance can be determined. The natural scient lens can provide insights
into the health impacts on working parents as a result of a lack of work-
life balance.
References
Gragnano, A., Simbula, S., & Miglioretti, M. (2020). Work–life balance:
weighing the importance of work–family and work–health balance.
International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(3),
907.
Pahuja, S. (2017). A study on work life balance of working parents in
educational sector. Asian Journal of Management, 8(1), 25-29.
