In studies on difference related to age and gender, we face ‘abnormal’ or ‘typical’ work‐life arrangements vis‐à‐vis taken‐for‐granted career concepts. Age and career are conceptualized from different angles depending on politics of work and organization, societal perspectives of age group position, perceived needs to have people work longer, and changing demographics. Underlying all this are questions of how age and gender are constituted in terms of their intersectional, dynamic relationship. We apply a perspective of rhythm to investigate what lies behind the linear life course and career perspectives. The notion of frayed careers serves to highlight rhythm and to criticize linearity and upward direction in views on careers, and at the same time calls for further theory development. In this introduction, we explore the implications of a dynamic‐rhythmic, yet ‘frayed’ perspective on life course, career and gender to represent stages of working life (lives) as interlinked and biographic.
This paper analyses the situation of older female employees in the public service sector in Germany, comparing women with middle‐level qualifications to highly‐qualified women in order to explore the intersection of age, qualification and work–life trajectories. The paper theorizes on the notion of work–life balance as experienced across the life course, supporting a holistic and long‐term focus. In particular two questions are emphasized: What does a 'work–life balance' mean in the biography of older female employees; and how do they balance the different areas of their lives? To explore these further, the concept of 'biographical work–life balance' is introduced. This concept embraces a holistic perspective, which is particularly important for the wellbeing of older workers. The paper aims to show the effect of different social discourses, working biographies and policies on perceived work–life balance over the entire life course based on data from narrative biographical interviews with older female employees in the public service sector in Germany.
Purpose -This paper aims to analyse the question of whether women freely choose to pursue a non-linear career or whether they are forced by their circumstances to take this path. Design/methodology/approach -Semi-structured interviews with older female employees, who had non-linear careers, were conducted. The qualitative analysis of women's biographical narratives was achieved through adopting a socio-biographical approach. The subjective view of success in the non-linear careers was addressed. Findings -All respondents would have preferred a linear career. However a non-linear career is accepted as a possibility to follow one's own professional interests and to cope with professional insecurity. Moreover women discover strategies to cope with insecurity, organizational injustice or life course stereotypes, such as networking, additional qualifications, and making the change over to a self-employed position.Research limitations/implications -As all interviews were conducted with German professionals and a small qualitative sample, the results need an adaptation for other countries, younger generations and different social strata. Social implications -The need for social political concepts for non-linear careers became evident. The risk of the non-linear careers should be pooled between individuals and organizations. Originality/value -The study found that some decisions, which aim to avoid professional insecurity (e.g. additional qualification), produce non-linearity and hence increase the insecurity. The importance of social constraints for individual career decisions has been emphasized in the paper.
Eine Befragung berufstätiger Eltern geht der Frage nach, welche Art von Zeitnutzung das Wohlbefinden dieser Gruppe fördert. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass eine strategische Zeitnutzung sowie die Möglichkeit, Zeit zu planen, die Lebensqualität erhöht. Die Notwendigkeit dagegen, auf Erwerbsarbeit oder Familie zu verzichten, beeinflusst das Wohlbefinden negativ. Auch flexible Anpassung eigener Zeit an die äußeren Bedingungen übt einen negativen Einfluß aus.
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