Finding Balance Amidst Expectations

Lots of us are familiar with the 40-hour workweek. We dedicate 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to making a living. This schedule may be the norm, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal. Working 40-plus hours a week isn’t easy for anyone. Many struggle to find a balance between their professional and personal lives. Not to mention finding the time to dedicate to mental and physical health. 

In honour of International Women’s Day, let’s explore how the 40-hour workweek uniquely affects women, break down the expectations placed on professional women, and see what the future has in store. 

To put it in context – the 40-hour workweek was developed with the expectation that one person per family (the man) would work, while the woman would stay home to raise children, cook, clean, and perform all other household tasks. Within the past 100 some years, women gradually began to work outside the home. Today, it is highly common for both partners to work full-time. So, while the opportunities for women have changed – women can go to school, get college degrees, and theoretically work anywhere – the societal expectations and responsibilities placed on women have not changed. If anything, they’ve gotten more intense. 

Today, women are expected to work full-time, in addition to traditional household and childrearing responsibilities, which constitute a full-time job in their own right. While individual family dynamics can vary, women are still expected to take on the majority of “homemaking”, no matter their employment status. 

What makes a successful woman in today’s environment? In addition to 40-plus hours a week and countless hours of unpaid labour, women must also be constantly improving themselves; taking courses, getting new certifications, plus giving up their time and resources to sit on committees and join volunteer boards. The select few “superwomen” who manage to balance it all (often to the detriment of their mental health) are regarded as role models and inspirations. 

Why are our expectations for professional women so high? Is it not enough just to be successful in your chosen field? Do we hold men to the same standards? 

Amanda Rogers, iPlume’s CEO, has spent a lot of time reflecting on these questions. She was reminded of the high expectations women are held to when recently applying for an award for businesswomen. On the application, she was asked to detail her education and certifications, the committees she serves on, where she volunteers, and more. Here’s what Amanda had to say in response: 

“While I am passionate about helping others, I am more passionate about raising my children to be well-rounded and well-adjusted humans. I am exactly where I want to be. I have found my balance as a businesswoman and a mother, and I will continue to strive to maintain that balance. I understand that there will be times when that balance will be challenged, and I know what I must do or choose not to do to maintain it.” 

In terms of finding balance, a major reckoning has taken place over the past 3 years. As workplaces around the world switched to remote work environments, employers, employees, and governmental bodies have begun to recognize the benefits of and advocate for remote/hybrid work, flexible schedules, and shorter workweeks. 

The good news: 

• Female entrepreneurs are resilient. During the pandemic, women-owned businesses leveraged digital technologies more often than men-owned businesses. 
• The number of women-founded “unicorn” startups has almost doubled since 2019. 

Where to improve: 

• As of December 2020, women were majority owners of approximately 16.8% of Canadian SMEs. 
• 67% of Canadian women with children under 18 reported taking on additional care work during the pandemic, compared to just 28% of men.

As for me, a young woman at the beginning of my career, I know the challenges that lie ahead, but I also feel optimistic. I appreciate my flexible remote work schedule at iPlume, and I’m learning how to find balance. I’ve also been very lucky to have numerous powerful female supervisors/mentors throughout my life. 

At the end of the day, every woman has a different scale. Some evenly balance personal and professional lives, while others prioritize one or the other, or something else entirely. This International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate them all.