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‘I just felt as though I had to drop something’: the implications of care for female working elder carers’ working lives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2017

VIV BURR Open the ORCID record for VIV BURR [Opens in a new window]  and
HELEN COLLEY
VIV BURR*
Affiliation:
School of Human and Health Science, University of Huddersfield, UK.
HELEN COLLEY
Affiliation:
School of Human and Health Science, University of Huddersfield, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Viv Burr, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This paper explores the challenges that female elder carers in the United Kingdom face in combining paid work with elder care, and the implications of this care for their current and future working lives. In-depth interviews with 11 working women from a large organisation were conducted, and five of the women were re-interviewed after a period of one year to examine any changes in their situation. The interviews revealed the precarious nature of their daily schedules, which required constant effort to maintain, the intrusion of elder care into their working lives, and the impact it had upon their career development and future aspirations. The findings provide insight into the reasons why carers, especially women, are more likely to reduce their working hours, do not take advantage of training opportunities and retire early. The findings are discussed in relation to the expectation of an extended working age and gender equality.

Keywords

elder carersworkretirementgendercare
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 39 , Issue 5 , May 2019 , pp. 877 - 898
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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