Here’s about Why Work-life Balance is not Working for Women in Corporate?
The Illusion of Balance
Work-life balance” has been promoted for decades now as the answer to the dilemma of the contemporary professional worker. But for women within corporate culture, it is never a solution to be had. Balance is a euphemism-sounding word; in reality, it is a battleground on which career drive and domestic duties constantly war. The problem is not women but the assumptions and structures that bind them.
The Double Burden of Home and Work
Despite corporate hype about flexibility and well-being, women still bear the unfair double burden of home and care. Even in dual-income households, studies show, women work more hours of unpaid household labor than men. This “second shift” compresses balance to a non-option — survival, not balance.
The Myth of Flexibility
Flexibility of schedule and remote work were supposed to be a level playing field. But women are always disadvantaged when it comes to flexibility because home workers are not considered “committed” and are bypassed for promotion. Instead of real flexibility, they put in more hours to prove their commitment.
Corporate Culture and Unspoken Expectations
At its core is work culture. The intimidation of women who assert boundaries, and the stress of being on call every minute, fuels it. Women are criticized more for prioritizing self-time, and men are rewarded for making minimal effort at home.
Rethinking the Conversation
Work-life balance is not working for women because it assumes that both “work” and “life” can fairly neatly coexist without destabilising structural disadvantage. What is needed instead is change at a system level: gender-blind leave, promotion procedures unrelated to not discriminating, childcare allowances, and a productivity culture rather than one of presence.
Conclusion: Balance for professional women is not sacrificing family on the altar of ambition, or ambition on the altar of family. It is about creating a world of work in which the two can harmoniously coexist without guilt, bias, and burnout. Until business firms move beyond token efforts and break through culture barriers, work-life balance will be more fantasy than fact.
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