W ORK -L IFE B ALANCE AND
R ELATIONSHIPS
S OME STATISTICS
STATISTICS

4 out of 10 employees state that their jobs are "very"
or "extremely" stressful

Those in high stress jobs are 3 times more likely to
suffer from medical conditions.
S TATISTICS – CONTD.

Women, in particular, report stress related to conflict
between work and family. (National Life Insurance
company)

75 – 90 % of physician visits are related to stress
and, according to the American Institute of Stress.
W OMAN ’ S C HANGING R OLE
IN THE W ORK F ORCE
W OMAN ’ S C HANGING R OLE
In years past, a woman’s decision to work outside her
home was usually based on three factors:

Marital status,

Contributions from other family members
(husband’s salary),

Children
A married woman with children nearly always worked
only at home.
C URRENT S CENE

Women enjoy the sense of competence

Contribute financially to their families

Men face less stress when not pressured to be the
family’s sole provider
C URRENT SCENE
( CONTD.)

In 1960, 1/3rd women with children were employed
outside the home.

In 2003, 60.7 % of mothers in two-parent families
were employed.

4 out of 5 Americans say it’s fine for a married
woman to work even though her husband makes
enough money to support the family.
C HANGING OCCUPATIONS

Women’s occupations are also changing as
they move into careers previously dominated
by males

Fill approximately 1/3rd of management
positions

However, remain in jobs with little authority
and low pay.
R ESULT :M ORE COMPLEX
FAMILY LIFE

Challenge of balancing responsibilities in both the
family and work areas

The ones who feel they aren’t very successful in
balancing family and work is highest between the
ages of 30 to 39.
S UPERWOMAN ’ S LEGACY

Marian Thomas writes:

"The good news is superwoman is dead. The bad
news is she left behind an entire generation of women
who are still struggling to figure out how to balance
home and work.”
C OMMON C ONCERNS ….

“How can I work and have time
with my partner or for myself and
be available for the kids and get
the shopping done and find time
to mop the kitchen floor, not to
mention relationships, Masjid,
kids games?”

Approximately 95 percent of
adults in a national survey
reported they are concerned work
takes too much time away from
their families.
FAMILY AND WORK SETTINGS
HAVE A BUILT- IN POTENTIAL
FOR CONFLICT.

You may feel overwhelmed with the
demands at work and at home.

You may feel little energy or time to
do all the things you are required to
do

You may feel you have no time for
yourself.
C ONFLICTS IN WORK - FAMILY
BALANCE
Time conflicts
Conflict due to tension
between roles
Behavioral conflicts
E CONOMIC AND
D EMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT
Economic context
Demographic context
Globalization of markets
Aging population
Market competition
Low birth rate
Mass entry of women into labour
market
“Sandwich generation”
Tertiarization of the economy
W ORK AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
Work context Social context
Increased use of technology
Increase in atypical jobs and
work schedules
Few measures to facilitate
work- family reconciliation
Work intensification
THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS

Work-family balance

Time conflicts

Conflict due to tension between roles

Behavioural conflicts
I MPACT ON FAMILY, WORK &
H EALTH
Impact on family Impact on work
Impact on health
Decreased socialization
Reduced work satisfaction
Stress, burnout, fatigue,
tension and depression
Deterioration of lifestyle
practices (food, exercise, etc.)
Absenteeism
Migraines,
Adaptation problems
Employee turnover
Cardiovascular diseases
Reduced marital satisfaction
Demotivation
Obesity
Reduced ability to transmit
values, culture
Increased health care costs
Increase in number of single
parents
Diversification of families
Dual-earner families
Social isolation
FAMILY AND WORK
ENVIRONMENTS INFLUENCE
EACH OTHER .

Positive and negative feelings go with you to work
and to home.
B ALANCE BETWEEN WORK
AND FAMILY SETTINGS WILL
MINIMIZE STRESS .

Reach Family Goals

Plan Family Activities
R EALISTICALLY E VALUATE
Y OUR E MPLOYMENT
D ECISION
Do you need to
work full-time?
Will you receive
health care,
retirement, and
vacation benefits?
Calculate how much
the decision to work
will cost in time for
family, child- care,
clothing and dry
cleaning, and
household chores.
O RGANIZE FAMILY
A CTIVITIES
Set
priorities
for the
family.
Plan
Ahead for
the Next
Day
Be
Realistic
I SLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON
WORKING WOMEN
Allah Almighty says (what means):

‫َو َق ْرنَ فِي ُب ُيو ِت ُكنَّ َو ََل َت َب َّر ْجنَ َت َب ُّر َج ا ْل َجا ِهلِ َّي ِة ْاْلُولَى‬
“And abide in your
houses and do not
display yourselves
as [was] the display
of the former times
of ignorance…”
[Quran 33: 33]
M USLIM WOMEN IN
H ISTORY
Scholars and
Muhaddithat
Worshippers
Orators and
Preachers
Women of
General
Excellence
Benefactors
Warriors
Poetesses and
Women of
Eloquence
Many Women
of Political
Acumen
KHADIJAH (RA):
THE ARCHETYPE
The First of
the Believers
Wealth and
Status
Family
and
Character
Esteemed
Counselor
WARRIOR WOMEN
Took part in battles by carrying water,
nursing wounded, some also fought!
Safiyya bint Abdul Muttalib, saw aunt
killed a spy with a tent pole
Khaibar & Umayyah bint Qais & the
women of Banu Ghifaar
The Yarmuk contingent
Azdah bint al Harith: Heroine of Battle of
Maisaan - banners made out of
headscarves to reinforce the army!
N USAIBAH BINT K A ’ B AL A NSARIYAH
Al-’Aqabah
The Battle of Uhud
The Prophet’s (saw)Praise - ‘I did not turn right or left in the Battle
of Uhud but that I saw her fighting near me.’
Her Wounds
Later Events: Ridwaan & Yamaamah
WOMEN OF P OWER

The number of women who were politically prominent are well
over a hundred: Umayyads, Abbasids, Turks, Persians, Mongols,
Indians, and others.
Shajar ad-Durr
• Sultana est control over Egypt, led resistance against 7th Crusade,
captures leader St. Louis
Shaghab
• ruled Abbasid empire for a time, helped public audiences, governors and
judges reported to her
Radiyah Begum
• ruled Delhi took firm control of the gov’t., did justice, led her armies
and was famed for fair dealing.
Two Rulers in Modern Times:
• Sakandar Begum took authority in the principality of Bhopal in Central
India- Great pilgrimage 1863 daughter ruled until 1901
S OME G ENERALIZATIONS A BOUT
W OMEN IN THE P ROPHETIC A GE
Critical
Consciousness
Facility of
Movement
Counselors
Women and
Dynamic
Participation
Women and
the Hijaab
Rich, Mature,
Helpful,
Honorable
Lives
Women at
Work
Knowledgeable
I SLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON
WORKING WOMEN

Most important role is motherhood
I SLAMIC G UIDELINES FOR
WORK
Must Obtain Husband’s Consent
Must ensure full care for Home and Children
Appropriate choice for Employment
Must not compromise Islamic Obligations
Must maintain Modesty
1. M UST O BTAIN
H USBAND ’ S C ONSENT
First, she must obtain
consent from her
guardian or husband (if
married), who may offer
a broader perspective
on how her work may
influence the family and
its functioning.
2. M UST E NSURE F ULL
CARE FOR H OME AND
C HILDREN
Secondly, a woman
must ensure that her
home and children are
properly cared for.
Her husband may be
of assistance in this
area, or outside help
may be employed.
3. A PPROPRIATE CHOICE OF
EMPLOYMENT
Thirdly, care must
be taken to
choose
employment that
is appropriate and
fits with her skills.
4. M UST NOT COMPROMISE
I SLAMIC O BLIGATIONS
Fourthly, any job
that prevents her
from fulfilling any
of her Islamic
obligations, is not
an option to be
considered.
5. M UST MAINTAIN
M ODESTY
Fifthly, while at
the job, a woman
must maintain her
inwardly and
outwardly
modesty and
chastity.
M USLIM WOMEN AND
KNOWLEDGE
Transmitters
= Raawiyaat
Transmitters of
Hadith & Scholars
of Hadith
Bearing the
Light of
‘A’ishah
Women An
Essential Element
From the Beginning
to the End
From the
Prophetic
Period till the
Compilations
T HE C RITICAL
C ONSCIOUSNESS OF THE
C OMPANION WOMEN
Education: Obtained
Ijazas, attended study
circles, taught others,
est. institutions
Social and
Societal
Maturity
Women are the
full sisters of
men
What
made them
amazing?
Full Social and
Political
Participation
Social
Contributions
Work in and
outside the
Home
B ALANCE TIME BETWEEN
WORK AND FAMILY !
C HECK
OUT ……
Dr. Kanwal Kaisser