Role Conflict Among Working Women

Dr.Jiji.T.S. MSW, M.Phil, Ph.D Social Worker, SCTIMST, Trivandrum.

Dr.Jiji.T.S.,MSW,M.Phil,Ph.D

Woman in a family plays a pivotal role in almost all spheres of life.

The multi role performed by a woman in our Indian culture ranges from Supportive wife, Daughter, sister, in Laws etc Caring compassionate mother Bread winner of a family House-keeper Child bearer and rearer
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Women workforce constitutes an integral part of total workforce in India

Dr.Jiji.T.S.,MSW,M.Phil,Ph.D

Roles are the result of expectations of others about appropriate behavior in a particular position. Role conflict is described as the psychological tension that is aroused by conflicting role pressures. Role theory suggests that conflict occurs when individuals engage in multiple roles that are incompatible. It states that role ambiguity refers to the lack of specificity and predictability for a persons job or role. Role theory postulates that multiple roles can lead to inter-role conflict and, in turn to symptoms of strain functions and responsibility (Kahn et al.)
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Kapur indicated that women who choose to combine marriage with career face almost a situation of normlessness and they hardly know how to apportion time and resources between these two major responsibilities. This makes them experience great conflict, tension and strain.

Gutek et al states that the inter-role conflict is likely to increase as the demands of either the work role or family role increases.

Dr.Jiji.T.S.,MSW,M.Phil,Ph.D

Work Family Conflict

A form of inter-role conflict in which the role pressures from the work and family domains are mutually incompatible in some respects. Each role within the family and work environment imposes demands requiring time, energy and commitment.

Married working women are faced with problems in performing different roles, such as the wife, mother, homemaker and employee roles.

The major role problem a woman faces is the conflict arising from multiple roles.
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Work-family conflict can be Time-based

Strain-based

Behavior based.
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Time-based conflict occurs when role pressures stemming from the two different domains compete for the individual's time (e.g., requiring a woman to work late with little notice might make it difficult for her to meet family obligations, like picking up a child at daycare).

Dr.Jiji.T.S.,MSW,M.Phil,Ph.D

Strain-based conflict occurs when the strain experienced in one role domain interferes with effective performance of role behaviors in the other domain. For example, a mother who is anxious about her child's illness might not be able to fully concentrate on her job as copy editor, causing her to make mistakes in her work.

Dr.Jiji.T.S.,MSW,M.Phil,Ph.D

Behavior-based conflict is described as conflict stemming from incompatible behaviors demanded by competing roles. For example, a manager in a financial services firm might be expected to be aggressive, unemotional, and hard-driving, but these same behaviors in the family domain would most likely lead to conflict with family members

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Work-family conflict is bi-directional.

work can interfere with family (referred to as work-tofamily conflict) And family can interfere with work (referred to as familyto-work conflict). Women with significant dependent care responsibilities (e.g., employees who have responsibilities caring for young children, employees with large families, employees who care for dependent elders) tend to report higher levels of workfamily conflict

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Consequences of Work- Family conflict Absenteeism Negative mental and physical health Low self concept/ self respect Poor duty performance Lose of chance of promotion Poor inter personal relationship Self blame Tendency to avoid opportunity to modify or correct faults Become the topic of criticism by the colleagues Marital disharmony
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Positive side of multi roles

Multiple roles may be life enhancing in that they provide additional sources of Social support Increased skills Heightened self-esteem Well being. It is the quality of roles that is important. That is, the greater the quality of a person's multiple roles (e.g., having an interesting, challenging job and a happy home life), the greater their self-esteem.
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Coping Behavior to resolve role conflict

Hall (1972) has identified three types of coping behavior for dealing with inter-role conflict.

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Type I coping (structural role redefinition) involves an active attempt to deal directly with role senders and lessen the conflict by mutual agreement on a new set of expectations.

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Type II coping (personal role redefinition) involves changing one's personal concept of role demands perceived from others. It entails changing the expectations themselves. An example is setting priorities among and within roles, being sure that certain demands are always met (for example, the needs of sick children), while others have lower priority (such as dusting furniture).

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Type III coping (reactive role behavior) entails attempting to improve the quality of role performance with no attempt to change the structural or personal definition of one's roles.

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Ways to resolve role conflict Sharing of duties by mutual agreement Open communication with the family members and colleagues Grooming the children and younger siblings to shoulder responsibilities by themselves Positive attitude and approach towards multi roles by choosing appropriate alternatives Find time to Relaxxxxx

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THANK YOU !!!

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