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Work-Life Balance: Decision-Making for
Women
A lot of books, websites and articles in recent years
address one of the hottest topics for working women: how
do women balance work and taking care of a household? Unfortunately
cultural norms about who is responsible for housework and
child rearing have not caught up with the reality of women's
work schedules. Affordable child care is also a challenge.
In addition, employers may not offer flexible schedules
and if they do, “flexible” may not mean what
you need.
So it is no surprise that many women turn to
self-employment as an option. U.S. Census Bureau figures
suggest that younger women may be opting out of working
for others to gain this flexibility in their own businesses.
41 percent of women business owners are under the age of
45; 36 percent of men business owners are under 45. But
is it right for you?
When you work through the 4 steps of “High
Quality Decisions” you may consider the following:
Alternatives:
- What if I'm interested in a self-employed
occupation that appears to be dominated by men? (i.e.
Lawyers, farmers, fishers) What sorts of barriers might
I encounter and how do I overcome them?
- I'm interested in being a Veterinarian and being
my own boss but not comfortable with the risks of starting
my own business from scratch. What are my options?
How much does buying a practice cost and how could I
pay for it over time?
Consequences:
- What would my husband/partner think of my choice
of occupation and/or self-employment? What sorts of cultural
or financial pressures would that place on our relationship?
- What flexibility would a particular self-employment
occupation offer me? What limitations would it place
on me?
Information:
- I need to talk with other women who work in my chosen
self-employment occupation. What were her losses/gains to
herself and others? What can I learn from possible mentors?
Plans:
- Use informational interviews, online research, and
other resources to map out necessary actions and goals.
- Building confidence, through information gathering,
to deal with negative consequences of career choice.
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