Work Life Balance (Myth or Fact) Black Female Academics A Case of Gauteng, South Africa
Main Article Content
Keywords
Interpretative approach, Black Female academics, Challenges, Work life balance, Universities
Abstract
Work-Life balance is a priority at many institutions of higher learning everywhere but especially for Black female academics from South Africa. Employers acknowledge the value employees who can straddle work and non-work domains but is it balance or integration and supportive workplaces that is required. This article authored by a male social worker seeks to explore the experiences of Black female academics at a university in Gauteng, regarding their work-life balance using the intersectionality framework. This qualitative exploratory case study included ten respondents, who were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the necessary data. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The study revealed the following main findings: Firstly, Black female academics are confronted by both personal and professional challenges that hinder them from achieving a work-life balance. Identified personal challenges included family responsibilities, patriarchal and cultural practices. While work overload, lack of recognition and lack of respect by male senior colleagues were identified as work-related challenges.
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References
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Mudau, Tshilidzi and Obadire. Segun. 2017. The role of patriarchy in family settings and its implications to girls and women in South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology 58(1): 67-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2017.1305614
Naicker, Linda. 2013. The journey of South African women academics with a particular focus on women academics in theological education. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 39: 325-336.
Nash, Jennifer C. 2008. Re-thinking intersectionality. Feminist Review 89(1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1057/fr.2008.4
Nash, Meredith, and Brendan Churchill. 2020. Caring during COVID‐19: A gendered analysis of Australian university responses to managing remote working and caring responsibilities.” Gender, Work & Organization 27(5): 833-846.
Naz, Sadaf, Shawana, Fazal, and Muhammad, Ilyas, Khan. 2017. Perceptions of women academics regarding work–life balance: A Pakistan case. Management in Education 31 (2): 88-93. https://doi.org/10.1177/0892020617696633
Ntsele, Busisiwe Octavia. 2014. Is affirmative action an enabler of the advancement of the right to gender equality in the South African workplace post-1994? A case study: Taking a glance into South African academia.” PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand.
Pillay, Venitha. 2009 .Academic mothers finding rhyme and reason. Gender and Education 21(5): 501-515. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540250802467927
Potgieter, Carrell, and Moleko, Shanaz. 2004. Stand out, stand up, move out: experiences of black South African women at historically white universities. In: Mabokela, R.O. and Magubane, Z. (eds). Hear our voices: race, gender and the status of black South African women in the academy. Pretoria: University of South Africa Press. 80-95. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004492479_008
Rawat, Seema, and Sanjay Meena. 2014. Publish or perish: Where are we heading?. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of medical sciences 19(2): 87.
Rugunanan, P. 2019. Valuing/belonging and devaluing/unbelonging in the academy: An intersectional perspective. In G. Khunou, E. Phaswana, K. Khoza-Shangase, & H. Canham (Eds.), Black Academic Voices: The South African Experience (pp. 134-146). HSRC Press.
Sav, Adem. 2019. The role of religion in work-life interface. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 30(22):3223-3244. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1255905
Segal, Jenna. 2014. A South African perspective on work-life balance: a look at women in academia. PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand.
Slaughter, Anne-Marie. 2012. Why women still can’t have it all. The Atlantic. 20 July 2020 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/.
Whaley, Diane E., and Vikki Krane. 2012. Resilient Excellence: Challenges faced by trailblazing women in US sport psychology. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 83(1): 65-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2012.10599826
Yadav, Taruna, and Sushma Rani. 2015. Work life balance: challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Applied Research 1(11): 680-684.
Ampah, Akua Frempomaa. 2013. On successful work-family balance: A case of educated Ghanaian women with white collar jobs.PhD Thesis, Ashesi University College.
Bauer, Greta R. 2014. Incorporating intersectionality theory into population health research methodology: challenges and the potential to advance health equity. Social science & Medicine 110: 10-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.03.022
Beninger, Anna. 2010. Women in academia: a cross-cultural perspective on work/life balance. PhD Thesis, London School of Economics.
Cole, Elizabeth R. 2009. Intersectionality and research in psychology. American Psychologist 64(3): 170. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014564
Delina, Graya. and Prabhakara Raya. 2013. A study on work-life balance in working women. International Journal of Commerce, Business and Management 2(5): 274-282.
Department of Education. 2008. Report of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Institutions. Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Higher Education and Training. 2019. Report of the Ministerial Task Team on the Recruitment, Retention and Progression of Black South African Academics. Pretoria, South Africa.
Dominguez-Whitehead, Yasmine, and Moeniera Moosa. 2014. New academics in the South African research-oriented academy: A critical review of challenges and support structures. Alternation 12: 260-282.
Garnett, Andrea, and Mahomed, Faza. 2012. I want to publish but...: Barriers to publishing for women at a University of Technology. Perspectives in Education 30(2): 81‑90.
Hjalmsdottir, Andrea, and Valgerour S. Bjarnadottir. 2021. I have turned into a foreman here at home: Families and work–life balance in times of COVID‐19 in a gender equality paradise.Gender, Work & Organization 28(1): 268-283. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12552
Hunt, Robert M. 2006. When do more patents reduce R&D?. American Economic Review 96(2): 87-91. https://doi.org/10.21799/frbp.wp.2006.06
Jansen, J. D. 2017. As By Fire: The End Of The South African University. NB Publishers Limited.
John, Issahaku, Nkyi K. Anthony, and Dramanu, Y. Bakari. 2020. Impact of work life balance on the psychological wellbeing of employees in the University of Cape Coast. Journal of Psychology 8(1): 8-19. https://doi.org/10.15640/jpbs.v8n1a2
Joubert, Marina, and Lars Guenther. (2017).In the footsteps of Einstein, Sagan and Barnard: Identifying South Africa’s most visible scientists. South African Journal of Science 113(11-12): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2017/20170033
Khunou, G., Phaswana, E., Khosa-Shangase, K., & Canham, H. (Eds.). (2019). Black Academic Voices: The South African Experience HSRC.
Kohll, Alan. 2018. The Evolving Definition of Work-Life Balance. Forbes. 20 September 2020 www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/03/27/the-evolving-definition-of-work-life-balance.
Magano, Meahabo Dinah. 2011. The social and emotional challenges of female postgraduate students in South Africa. Journal of Social Sciences 29(3): 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718923.2011.11892971
Mahasha, Khomotso Lucy Mamphare. 2016. Balancing work and family responsibilities: the case of women in management positions in Nkangala District.” PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand.
Mangolothi, Brightness. 2019. Advancing gender equality in academia. The Mail & Guardian. September 20 https://mg.co.za/article/2019-09-20-00-advancing-gender-equality-in-academia/.
Mangoma, Arinao, and Anthony Wilson-Prangley. 2019. Black Tax: Understanding the financial transfers of the emerging black middle class. Development Southern Africa 36(4): 443-460. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2018.1516545
Maodzwa-Taruvinga, Mandivavarira, and Joseph Jinja Divala. 2014. Experiences of black women teacher educators in the South African higher education system: part 2: being and belonging in South African higher education: the voices of black women academics-leading article. South African Journal of Higher Education 28(6): 1961-1971. https://doi.org/10.20853/28-6-436
Mokhele, Matseliso. (2013). Reflections of Black women academics at South African Universities: A narrative case study. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 4(3): 611-611. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n3p611
Monnapula-Mapesela, Mabokang. 2017. Developing as an academic leader in a university of technology in South Africa: Dealing with enabling and constraining teaching and learning environments. Critical Studies in Teaching and Learning 5(2): 69-85. https://doi.org/10.14426/cristal.v5i2.103
Muberekwa, Evelyn, and Thobeka Nkomo. 2016 .Exploring the perceptions of Wits academic women about women empowerment and the changing roles of women in 21st-century South Africa. SAGE Open 6(4): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016675014
Mudau, Tshilidzi and Obadire. Segun. 2017. The role of patriarchy in family settings and its implications to girls and women in South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology 58(1): 67-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2017.1305614
Naicker, Linda. 2013. The journey of South African women academics with a particular focus on women academics in theological education. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 39: 325-336.
Nash, Jennifer C. 2008. Re-thinking intersectionality. Feminist Review 89(1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1057/fr.2008.4
Nash, Meredith, and Brendan Churchill. 2020. Caring during COVID‐19: A gendered analysis of Australian university responses to managing remote working and caring responsibilities.” Gender, Work & Organization 27(5): 833-846.
Naz, Sadaf, Shawana, Fazal, and Muhammad, Ilyas, Khan. 2017. Perceptions of women academics regarding work–life balance: A Pakistan case. Management in Education 31 (2): 88-93. https://doi.org/10.1177/0892020617696633
Ntsele, Busisiwe Octavia. 2014. Is affirmative action an enabler of the advancement of the right to gender equality in the South African workplace post-1994? A case study: Taking a glance into South African academia.” PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand.
Pillay, Venitha. 2009 .Academic mothers finding rhyme and reason. Gender and Education 21(5): 501-515. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540250802467927
Potgieter, Carrell, and Moleko, Shanaz. 2004. Stand out, stand up, move out: experiences of black South African women at historically white universities. In: Mabokela, R.O. and Magubane, Z. (eds). Hear our voices: race, gender and the status of black South African women in the academy. Pretoria: University of South Africa Press. 80-95. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004492479_008
Rawat, Seema, and Sanjay Meena. 2014. Publish or perish: Where are we heading?. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of medical sciences 19(2): 87.
Rugunanan, P. 2019. Valuing/belonging and devaluing/unbelonging in the academy: An intersectional perspective. In G. Khunou, E. Phaswana, K. Khoza-Shangase, & H. Canham (Eds.), Black Academic Voices: The South African Experience (pp. 134-146). HSRC Press.
Sav, Adem. 2019. The role of religion in work-life interface. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 30(22):3223-3244. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1255905
Segal, Jenna. 2014. A South African perspective on work-life balance: a look at women in academia. PhD Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand.
Slaughter, Anne-Marie. 2012. Why women still can’t have it all. The Atlantic. 20 July 2020 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/.
Whaley, Diane E., and Vikki Krane. 2012. Resilient Excellence: Challenges faced by trailblazing women in US sport psychology. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 83(1): 65-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2012.10599826
Yadav, Taruna, and Sushma Rani. 2015. Work life balance: challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Applied Research 1(11): 680-684.
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Jul 3, 2023
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Work Life Balance (Myth or Fact) Black Female Academics: A Case of Gauteng, South Africa. (2023). Pan-African Conversations, 1(1), 57-76. https://doi.org/10.36615/pac.v1i1.2548
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Work Life Balance (Myth or Fact) Black Female Academics: A Case of Gauteng, South Africa. (2023). Pan-African Conversations, 1(1), 57-76. https://doi.org/10.36615/pac.v1i1.2548