Abstract

Work-life balance (WLB) issues are taking centre stage in the work and family policies in Kenya. This is due to the diversity of the current workforce that includes high proportions of working women. This article reports on a study that sought to find out how the print media frames the definitions and causes of, and solutions to, WLB issues in Kenya. The study found that the media frames WLB as a middle-and upper-class families’ women’s issue. Thus, WLB is depicted as unattainable and women’s work is framed as their choice made for selfish ambition. This framing places working mothers at a disadvantage. Women are perceived as primary caregivers with roles that cannot be delegated. There is also less support from their spouses and employers and more reliance on domestic workers. The study found the following solutions to WLB challenges: (1) reframe women’s role to be inclusive of work; (2) include nurturing roles to expand the role of fathers and husbands; (3) improve women’s relationship with their domestic workers; (4) encourage women to pace life accordingly; and (5) advise women to plan and have better time management. Policy implications are also discussed in detail in the article.

摘要

工作与生活的平衡 (WLB) 问题正在肯尼亚的工作和家庭政策中占据中心位置。这是由于当前劳动力的多样性，其中包括高比例的职业女性。本文报道了一项研究，该研究试图找出印刷媒体如何构建肯尼亚 WLB 问题的定义、原因和解决方案。研究发现，媒体将 WLB 视为中上层家庭的女性问题。因此，WLB 被描述为高不可攀，而女性的工作则被描述为她们为自私的野心而做出的选择。这种框架使职业母亲处于不利地位。女性被视为主要的照顾者，其角色无法委派。他们的配偶和雇主的支持也较少，而更多地依赖家庭佣工。该研究发现了以下解决 WLB 挑战的方法：(1) 将妇女的角色重新定义为包括工作；(2) 包括培育角色以扩大父亲和丈夫的角色；(3) 改善妇女与其家政工人的关系；(4) 鼓励女性相应地调整生活节奏；(5) 建议女性做好计划并更好地管理时间。文章中还详细讨论了政策含义。