ABSTRACT
There are certain key events in the lives of individual men and women which have major consequences for their work and careers. Such occurrences arise out of and are connected with their personal and private lives and can have short- or longer-term repercussions. The women in the career history study were very aware that the shortage of teachers in the 1960s and 70s was one of the main factors in their decisions to return to teaching. There are certain features of the primary teaching labour market which can assist the woman teacher who, in order to cope with family responsibilities, takes a break from teaching and then returns. The timing of a break in service for women teachers is contingent upon family events. The return to teaching is a highly significant event for women teachers, marking a change in family relationships and experiences and the need to balance work and family commitments.
