Chapter 4 - Exploring Work-Life Considerations of Independent Home Party Consultants
Sarah E. Riforgiate
Synopsis
Amanda enjoyed working, but when she had her second child the cost for daycare and gas was almost as much as her bi-weekly paychecks. She and her husband decided that it made sense for her to stay at home with the kids while they were little, but Amanda was still trying to figure out how she could work and stay home. A friend hosted a home party and the sales consultant suggested that Amanda sign up as an independent consultant. She would have entrepreneurial freedom and could create a professional identity and income. Amanda figured it was an idea worth exploring, but was it too good to be true?
Keywords: Work-family Balance, Work-life Conflict, Independent Consultants, Entrepreneurs, Self-employment
Key Takeaways and Take a Stand Form
Key Takeaways
- While work-life issues are important to all individuals, women with small children still face the greatest challenges in navigating work and family responsibilities.
- According to Stone (2007), when women exit the workforce they feel that demanding and inflexible work schedules provided a push for them to “opt out” of the workplace, while family concerns simultaneously pull them to take time off to meet family demands.
- Being a home party consultant offers entrepreneurial freedom not afforded by formal work structures, while simultaneously providing a professional identity and income. Yet, there are challenges to being an entrepreneur when clients are not cooperative, income fluctuates, and professional and private boundaries blur.
- Discursively communicated societal norms regarding male and female parental responsibilities and organizational practices contribute to challenges in negotiating work-life and family obligations.
- Work-life and family issues are different for individuals from varying economic and social classes.
Take a Stand Form
- Take a Stand Form (DOC 17KB)