The changing role of women and work concerning gender, the family andchildcare issues: A work-life balance perspective.

Within Ireland, the number of women in employment has increased, where the female participation in 1985 was around 30% and in 2004 was over 49%'. Over 50% of Irish mothers who have at least one child under 5 are now in the labor force . This thesis examines the framework that points to and informs changes of the role and status of women and work in Ireland over time. The paper observes the ambiguity of women and employment concerning the family, childcare issues and gender related issues concerning the prospect of a work-life balance for women. Work-life balance means putting in place working arrangements and policies, which assist workers in combining employment with other responsibilities and choices. Balancing work and family life may be somewhat easier for two parents who live together than a lone parent. But in reality it is a challenge for all parents, especially women, in our changing society. Hakims preference theory, concerned primarily with women’s choices between family work and market work, at the present time, is in relation to women wanting a betterbalanced life. The choices or preferences women have appear as a vital issue within this study in which women’s decisions act as a go-between of everyday jobs and duties of the family and of work opportunities. From my study 40 women who work, compared to 24 women who choose to stay at home to care for their family, if all women had a choice, 66.7% would preferably continue to work where as 33.3% would rather quit their jobs. Those who would continue to work, if they had a personal choice, 83% would work part-time and 17% would like to work full-time. This thesis then examines the attitudes and behaviors of women and work within the Dunboyne area, with the use of a quantitative study, observing the life experiences of women and how they cope with a work-life balance today in our changing culture.