Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance

Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance describes the work-life practices of men in the United States. The purpose is to increase gender equality at work for all employees. With a focus on leave policy inequalities, this book argues that men experience a phenomenon called "the glass handcuffs," which prevents them from leaving work to participate fully in their families, homes, and other life events.

Sarah Jane Blithe is Assistant Professor Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA

List of Tables and Figures Foreword Preface Part I: Overview 1. Outlining the Glass Handcuffs Phenomenon Part II: Historical Context for the Glass Handcuffs Phenomenon 2. Organizational Inequality 3. Situating Leaves of Absence Policies Part III: Causes for the Glass Handcuffs 4. "But I was a Programmer Before I was a Dad": Occupational Uniqueness and Occupational Identity 5. "It is my responsibility to find the right balance": Entrepreneurialism as a constraint 6. It's Kind of a Man Thing: Gendered expectations about work and home 7. "Who needs time off?" Resisting and mitigating leaves of absence 8. Economic dependence Part IV: Finding the Key: Why Understanding the Glass Handcuffs Matters 9. Impacts of the Glass Handcuffs 10. Conclusions Appendices A. Studying Men: Methods and Standpoint Theory B. Interview Guide C. Data Analysis References Index