ABSTRACT
Historically, women and men had different roles within the family. Men were the economic providers and women the caregivers and homemakers. However, the traditional family consisting of a provider-father, a stay-at-home mother, and their children is relatively rare today. This chapter explores issues related to the coordination of women's multiple responsibilities in the domestic and employment domains. It begins with a look at perceptions of and attitudes toward their family and employment roles. The chapter examines the impact of women's employment on the division of labor in the home as well as the challenges, costs, and benefits of balancing family and work. It explores employer resources that facilitate this coordination and consider strategies women use to manage family and work responsibilities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of midlife transitions in family and work roles.
