Juggling work and family beyond the Mind-Set: Work-family conflict in Malaysian perspective

Jacob, Gouri A. Domnic; Chinna, Karuthan; Boerhannoddin, Ali; Hussain, Rosila Bee Mohd

International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences

Int. j. adv. appl. sci.

EISSN: 2313-3724

Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Volume 4, Issue 4 (April 2017), Pages: 143-154

Title: Juggling work and family beyond the Mind-Set: Work-family conflict in Malaysian perspective

Author(s): Gouri A. Domnic Jacob ^{1, 2,}*, Karuthan Chinna ³, Ali Boerhannoddin ⁴, Rosila Bee Mohd Hussain ⁵

Affiliation(s):

¹Institute of Graduate Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
²Faculty of Business Administration, University of Technology MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
³Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
⁴Faculty of Economics and Administrative, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
⁵Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2017.04.021

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Abstract:

This article is to explore the dimensions of ‘mind-set’ among Malaysian dual-earners in the work-family context. The primary goal of this study is to understand the effect of spousal support in overcoming work-family conflict and as a ‘tool’ to break those ‘mind-sets’. In this study an In-Depth interview methodology was used. A total of 18 dual-earners were interviewed to understand the mind-set of the dual-earners. Based on these interviews, it is evident that Gender Role Ideology has taken root in our society. The main themes are derived from the interviews and these themes are the root of the ideology and mind-set among these groups of people. Two dimensions of mind-set have been identified. The first mind-set is the “gender stereotype mind-set” based on how men and women are supposed to be influenced by religion, culture, beliefs and norms. The second mind-set is described as the “mother’s mind-set”. In this type of mind set, mothers believe that they cannot let go the responsibility of child care and nurturing to the fathers because they are not confident of the fathers’ capability in taking care the children. The results from this study highlight the importance of mind-sets that cause work-family conflict among Malaysians. The implications of this study were discussed. This study identifies the specific themes for work-family conflict in the Malaysian Perspective. The study also focuses on mind-sets that create work-family conflict in the Malaysian Perspective.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Keywords: Work-family conflict, Work-family balance, Spousal support, Gender ideology, Mother’s mind-set

Article History: Received 15 July 2016, Received in revised form 22 October 2016, Accepted 10 November 2016

Digital Object Identifier:

https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2017.04.021

Citation:

Jacob GAD, Chinna K, Boerhannoddin A, and Hussain RBM (2017). Juggling work and family beyond the Mind-Set: Work-family conflict in Malaysian perspective. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 4(4): 143-154

http://www.science-gate.com/IJAAS/V4I4/Jacob.html

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