Abstract
This study assessed college students’ anticipated work-family conflict (family-impacting-work and work-impacting-family), and the family-altering and work-altering strategies they plan to employ to relieve that conflict. Undergraduates (N = 121) from two universities in the southeastern U.S. were surveyed and differences between the genders were tested. There were no significant gender differences in total conflict, but women anticipated more family-impacting-work conflict, while men anticipated greater work-impacting family conflict. Women planned to employ conflict-relieving strategies more than men did, although the genders did not differ in the mean amount of conflict they anticipated. The type of conflict anticipated did not align with planning for the appropriate conflict-relieving strategy. Women varied in their employment plans while their children are too young for school, although most planned to have their first child by age 30, and to return to a highly prestigious career. Results indicate that emerging adults of both genders may not be realistically planning for their anticipated work-family conflict.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alksnis, C., Desmarais, S., & Curtis, J. (2008). Workforce segregation and the gender wage gap: Is ‘women’s’ work valued as highly as ‘men’s’? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38, 1216–1441. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00354.x.
Allen, T., Herst, D., Bruck, C., & Sutton, M. (2000). Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5, 278–308. doi:10.1037/1076-8998.5.2.278.
Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469–480. doi:10.1037//0003-06X.55.5.469.
Arthur, N., & Lee, C. (2008). Young Australian women’s aspirations for work, marriage, and family: I guess I’m just another person who wants it all. Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 589–596. doi:10.1177/1359105308090931.
Baber, K. M., & Monaghan, P. (1988). College women’s career and motherhood expectations: New options, old dilemmas. Sex Roles, 19, 189–203. doi:10.1007/BF00290154.
Baltes, B., & Heydens-Gahir, H. (2003). Reduction of work-family conflict through the use of selection, optimization, and compensation behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 1005–1018. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1005.
Bedeian, A., Burke, B., & Moffett, R. (1988). Outcomes of work-family conflict among married male and female professionals. Journal of Management, 14, 475–491. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1005.
Budig, M. J., & Hodges, M. J. (2014). Statistical models and empirical evidence for differences in the motherhood penalty across the earnings distribution. American Sociological Review, 79, 358–364. doi:10.1177/0003122414523616.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014). Women in the labor force: A databook. BLS Reports, 1052. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/cps/women-in-the-labor-force-a-databook-2014.pdf.
Burley, K. (1994). Gender differences and similarities in coping responses to anticipated work-family conflict. Psychological Reports, 74, 115–123. doi:10.2466/pr0.1994.74.1.115.
Carlson, D., Kacmar, K., & Williams, L. (2000). Construction and initial validation of a multidimensional measure of work-family conflict. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 56, 249–276. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1999.1713.
Cinamon, R. G., & Rich, Y. (2002). Gender differences in the importance of work and family roles: Implications for work-family conflict. Sex Roles, 47, 531–541. doi:10.1023/A:1022021804846.
Connolly, S. & Gregory, M. (2005). Part-time work- A trap for women’s careers? An analysis of the roles of heterogeneity and state dependence. University of Oxford Department of Economics Discussion Paper Series, 1471–1498.
DeMartino, R., & Barbato, R. (2003). Differences between women and men MBA entrepreneurs: Exploring family flexibility and wealth creation as career motivators. Journal of Business Venturing, 18, 815–832. doi:10.1016/S0883-9026(03)00003-X.
Dinella, L. M., Fulcher, M., & Weisgram, E. S. (2014). Sex-typed personality traits and gender identity as predictors of young adults’ career interests. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43, 493–504. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0234-6.
Duncan, O. D. (1991). Socioeconomic Index. In D. C. Miller (Ed.), Handbook of research design and social measurement (5th ed.). Newbury Park: Sage.
Duxbury, L., Higgins, C., & Lee, C. (1994). Work-family conflict: A comparison by gender, family type, and perceived control. Journal of Family Issues, 15, 449–466. doi:10.1177/019251394015003006.
Ex, C. T. G. M., Janssens, J. M. A. M., & Korzilius, H. P. L. M. (2002). Young females’ images of motherhood in relation to television viewing. Journal of Communication, 52, 955–971. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2002.tb02583.x.
Fox, G. L., & Murry, V. M. (2000). Gender and families: Feminist perspectives and family research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62, 1160–1172. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.01160.x.
Fulcher, M., & Coyle, E. F. (2011). Breadwinner and caregiver: A cross-sectional analysis of children’s and emerging adults’ visions of their future family roles. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 29, 330–346. doi:10.1111/j.2044-835X.2011.02026.x.
Fulcher, M., Sutfin, E. L., & Patterson, C. J. (2008). Individual differences in gender development: Associations with parental sexual orientation, attitudes and division of labor. Sex Roles, 58, 330–341. doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9348-4.
Gaunt, R. (2005). The role of value priorities in maternal and paternal involvement in child care. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 643–655. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00159.x.
Gottfredson, L., & Lapan, R. (1997). Assessing gender-based circumscription of occupational aspirations. Journal of Career Assessment, 5, 419–441. doi:10.1177/106907279700500404.
Granrose, C. (1985). Plans for work careers among college women who expect to have families. Vocational Guidance Quarterly, 33, 284–295. doi:10.1002/j.2164-585X.1985.tb01322.x.
Greenhaus, J., & Beutell, N. (1985). Sources and conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10, 76–88. doi:10.2307/258214.
Helms-Erikson, H., Tanner, J. L., Crouter, A. C., & McHale, S. M. (2000). Do women’s provider-role attitudes moderate the links between work and family? Journal of Family Psychology, 14, 658–670. doi:10.1031//0893-3200.14.4.658.
Hodges, M. J., & Budig, M. J. (2010). Who gets the daddy bonus?: Organizational hegemonic masculinity and the impact of fatherhood on earnings. Gender and Society, 24, 717–745. doi:10.1177/0891243210386729.
Hodges, A. J., & Park, B. (2013). Oppositional identities: Dissimilarities in how women and men experience parent versus professional roles. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2, 193–216. doi:10.1037/a0032681.
Hood, J. C. (1986). The provider role: Its meaning and measurement. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 349–359. doi:10.2307/352402.
Izraeli, D. (1993). Work/family conflict among women and men managers in dual-career couples in Israel. Journal of Social Behavior & Personality, 8, 371–385.
Kaufman, G. (2005). Gender role attitudes and college students’ work and family expectations. Gender Issues, 2, 58–71. doi:10.1007/s12147-005-0015-1.
Livingston, M., Burley, K., & Springer, T. (1996). The importance of being feminine: Gender, sex role, occupational and marital role commitment, and their relationship to anticipated work-family conflict. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 11, 179–192.
Mannino, C. A., & Deutsch, F. M. (2007). Changing the division of household labor: A negotiated process between partners. Sex Roles, 56, 309–324. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9181-1.
Mason, M. A., & Goulden, M. (2004). Marriage and baby blues: Redefining gender equity in the academy. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 596, 86–104. doi:10.1177/0002716204268744.
Miller, A. (2011). The effects of motherhood timing on career path. Journal of Popular Economics, 24, 1071–1100. doi:10.1007/s00148-009-0296-x.
Netemeyer, R., Boles, J., & McMurrian, R. (1996). Development and validation of work-family conflict and family-work conflict scales. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81, 400–410. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.81.4.400.
Netemeyer, R., Brashear-Alejandro, T., & Boles, J. (2004). A cross-national model of job-related outcomes of work role and family role variables: A retail sales context. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 32, 49–60. doi:10.1177/0092070303259128.
Orrange, R. M. (2002). Aspiring law and business professionals’ orientations to work and family life. Journal of Family Issues, 23, 287–317. doi:10.1177/0192513X02023002006.
Parker, K., & Wang, W. (2013). Modern parenthood: Roles of moms and dads converge as they balance work and family. Pew Research Center: Social and Demographic Trends. Retrieved from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/03/14/modern-parenthood-roles-of-moms-and-dads-converge-as-they-balance-work-and-family/.
Perkins, H. W., & DeMeis, D. K. (1996). Gender and family effects on the “second-shift” domestic activity of college-educated young adults. Gender and Society, 10, 78–93. doi:10.1177/089124396010001006.
Schroeder, K., Blood, L., & Maluso, D. (1993). Gender differences and similarities between male and female undergraduate students regarding expectations for career and family roles. College Student Journal, 27, 237–249.
Smith, S. L., Pieper, K. M., Granados, A., & Choeiti, M. (2010). Assessing gender-related portryals in top-grossing G-rated films. Sex Roles, 62, 774–786. doi:10.1007/s11199-009-9736-z.
Smithson, J., Lewis, S., Cooper, C., & Dyer, J. (2004). Flexible working and the gender pay gap in the accountancy profession. Work, Employment and Society, 18, 115–135. doi:10.1177/0950017004040765.
Spade, J., & Reese, C. (1991). We’ve come a long way, maybe: College students’ plans for work and family. Sex Roles, 24, 309–321. doi:10.1007/BF00288304.
Stone, L., & McGee, N. P. (2000). Gendered futures: Student visions of career and family on a college campus. Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 31, 67–89. doi:10.1525/aeq.2000.31.1.67.
The Council of Economic Advisers (2014). Nine facts about American families and work. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/nine_facts_about_family_and_work_real_final.pdf.
U. S. Department of Labor. (2012). Facts over time: Women in the labor force. Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/facts_over_time.htm#wilf.
Weer, C., Greenhaus, J., Colakoglu, S., & Foley, S. (2006). The role of maternal employment, role-altering strategies, and gender in college students’ expectations of work-family conflict. Sex Roles, 55, 535–544. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9107-y.
Weinshenker, M. N. (2006). Adolescents’ expectations about mothers’ employment: Life course patterns and parental influence. Sex Roles, 54, 845–857. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9052-9.
Weisgram, E. S., Bigler, R. S., & Liben, L. S. (2010). Gender, values, and occupational interests among children, adolescents, and adults. Child Development, 81, 778–796. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01433.x.
Weisgram, E. S., Dinella, L. M., & Fulcher, M. (2011). The role of masculinity/femininity, values, and occupational value affordances in shaping young men’s and women’s occupational choices. Sex Roles, 65, 243–258. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9107-y.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship program, which supported the first author’s graduate study during manuscript preparation (Grant No. DGE1255832). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. We additionally gratefully acknowledge support from the Lenfest Grant, which supports the fourth author.
Compliance with Ethical Standards
The research reported on in the manuscript, “Planning to Have It All: Emerging Adults’ Expectations of Future Work-Family Conflict” complies with ethical standards for research as directed by the American Psychological Association. The project was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Washington and Lee University. Participants gave written informed consent before participating in data collection.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Coyle, E.F., Van Leer, E., Schroeder, K.M. et al. Planning to Have It All: Emerging Adults’ Expectations of Future Work-Family Conflict. Sex Roles 72, 547–557 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-015-0492-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-015-0492-y