How the Aspects of Gender Play a Role towards Causing Work Family Conflict

Abstract

The present time shows drastic changes occurring worldwide due to globalization factors. Mankind sees a shift in their lifestyles, thus requiring them to blend in with the evolving modernization in the world today. The shift in the lifestyles of these individuals have caused a variation in their behaviors, as something that was once regarded as being routine and accepted as a social norm now sees itself facing challenging effects due to this sudden shift. With the workforce expanding to the rapid rate of globalization, many families are seeing the evident challenges and complications to cope with this forceful drive to achieve success and sustain a comfortable life in this world where the economy is constantly fluctuating. Hence, with the changing lifestyles in families, conflicts are bound to occur; a situation known as work-family conflict. This paper aims to highlight, apart from the many other reasons that can cause work-family conflict, how gender is seen to be one of the prime factors towards causing it. Past researches were looked through and skimmed towards garnering the results needed for the conduct of this study. The particular variable that is given a prime focus is gender. This variable has been looked though many journals, gathering different hypothetical views and theories developed by past theorists in achieving the results of this study. The gender aspects taken note in this study deal with the different perspectives on how conflict arises between both husbands and wives due to the different ideological stance of the aspects of gender. Thus, studies were made with great relevance, studying how this variable can affect and cause work-family conflict. This is an explorative research studying the different perspectives of both men and women in Malaysia. Questionnaires were developed and passed around to working adults to garner the results required for this study. The questionnaires were formed using the scales developed by Gutek et al. (1991), Kopelman, Greenhaus, and Connolly (1983), Burley (1989), Hackman and Oldham (1980), Spannier (1976), Abidin (1990), Goldberg (1972), and Spector and Jex (1998). Gender was found to have a positive effect towards causing work-family conflict among both husbands and wives. The different ideologies that both genders portray in their daily activities have adverse effects towards causing work-family conflict. And this in turn, can lead to other consequences as well. Thus, husbands and wives should be well-aware of the importance of communication and to comprehend what goes on in each others lives so as to avoid any conflict of interest from occurring. Companies should enhance the concept of Organizational Support towards their colleagues. Such support can be in the range of family-supportive-organization-perceptions, supervisor work-family support, and instilling organizational rules inside the workplace. Organizations should also instill family-friendly policies to reduce the tension faced by employees. When this is put in view, a difference can clearly be seen in the change in perception of the aspects of gender and thus, this can clearly lead to the reduction of work-family conflict. This research studies the causes leading to work-family conflict between both genders.