Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T03:59:27.295Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Is entrepreneurship the answer to achieving work–family balance?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Jodyanne Kirkwood  and
Beth Tootell
Jodyanne Kirkwood
Affiliation:
Department of Management, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Beth Tootell
Affiliation:
Department of Human Resource Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Many people (particularly women) see entrepreneurship as a way of achieving a better balance between work and family than that provided by paid employment. Fifty-eight entrepreneurs were interviewed in New Zealand (32 women and 26 men) in order to explore the work-family conflict they face, the techniques they use to achieve work–family balance and the effectiveness of these strategies. Our study finds that women entrepreneurs employ a number of flexible work practices, such as choosing where to work, when to work and with whom to work as well as managing their roles within the family. This study concludes that entrepreneurship may not be a panacea for achieving work–family balance. We offer some suggestions for how entrepreneurs may better achieve work–family balance.

Keywords

work–family balanceentrepreneursgenderwork–family conflictwomen entrepreneursNew Zealand
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , July 2008 , pp. 285 - 302
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alcorso, C (1993) ‘And I'd like to thank my wife.…’ Gender dynamics and the ethnic ‘Family business’ Australian Feminist Studies 17: 93–108.Google Scholar
Aldrich, HE and Cliff, JE (2003) The pervasive effects of family on entrepreneurship: Toward a family embeddedness perspective Journal of Business Venturing 18: 373–396.Google Scholar
Arulappan, M (2003) When it's work…and not life: Work–life balance: A critique. http://www.employersforworklifebalance.org.uk/debate/international.htm. Accessed 25 March 2006.Google Scholar
Avery, R, Haynes, DC and Haynes, GW (2000) Managing work and family: The decision to outsource child care in families engaged in family-owned businesses, Journal of Family and Economic Issues 21: 227–258.Google Scholar
Belcourt, M, Burke, RJ and Lee-Gosselin, H (1991) The Glass Box: Women business owners in Canada, Ontario, Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women.Google Scholar
Breen, J, Calvert, C and Oliver, J (1995) Female entrepreneurs in Australia: An investigation of financial and family issues Journal of Enterprising Culture 3: 445–461.Google Scholar
Brush, CG (1990) Women and enterprise creation, In OECD (Ed) Enterprising Women: Local initiatives for job creation, Paris, OECD.Google Scholar
Burke, R and Belcourt, M (1989) Work and family in the lives of female entrepreneurs: Having it all? Western Ontario, School of Business Administration, The University of Western Ontario.Google Scholar
Buttner, EH (1993) Female entrepreneurs: How far have they come? Business Horizons 36: 59–65.Google Scholar
Buttner, EH and Moore, DP (1997) Women's organizational exodus to entrepreneurship: Self-reported motivations and correlates with success Journal of Small Business Management 35: 34–46.Google Scholar
Caputo, RK and Dolinsky, A (1998) Women's choice to pursue self-employment: The role of financial and human capital of household members Journal of Small Business Management 36: 8–17.Google Scholar
Carland, JW, Hoy, F and Carland, JAC (1988) ‘Who is an entrepreneur?’ Is a question worth asking American Journal of Small Business 12: 33–39.Google Scholar
Carter, S and Cannon, T (1988) Female entrepreneurs: A study of female business owners; their motivations, experiences and strategies for success, Stirling, Department of Employment.Google Scholar
Collins-Dodd, C, Gordon, I and Smart, C (2004) Further evidence on the role of gender in financial performance Journal of Small Business Management 42: 395–417.Google Scholar
Cromie, S and Hayes, J (1988) Towards a typology of female entrepreneurs, Sociological Review 36: 87–113.Google Scholar
Cunningham, JB and Lischeron, J (1991) Defining entrepreneurship Journal of Small Business Management 29: 45–61.Google Scholar
Curran, J and Blackburn, RA (2001) Researching the Small Enterprise, London, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Department of Labour (2007) Labour market outlook. http://www.dol.govt.nz/PDFs/lmr-outlook-oct-06.pdf. Accessed 23 March 2006.Google Scholar
EEO Trust (2005) A Question of Balance, Wellington, EEO Trust.Google Scholar
Ezra, M and Deckman, M (1996) Balancing work and family responsibilities: Flexitime and childcare in the federal government Public Administration Review 56: 174–179.Google Scholar
Felstead, A, Jewson, N, Phizacklea, A and Walters, S (2002) Opportunities to work at home in the context of work-life balance Human Resource Management Journal 12: 54–76.Google Scholar
Foley, S and Powell, GN (1997) Reconceptualizing work–family conflict for business/marriage partners: A theoretical model Journal of Small Business Management 35: 36–47.Google Scholar
Fontana, A and Frey, JH (1994) Interviewing: The art of science, In Denzin, NK and Lincoln, YS (Eds) Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Frone, MR, Russell, M and Cooper, ML (1992) Antecedents and outcomes of work–family conflict: Testing a model of the work–family interface Journal of Applied Psychology 77: 65–78.Google Scholar
Gilbert, LA, Kovalic Holahan, C and Manning, L (1981) Coping with conflict between professional and maternal roles Family Relations 30: 419–426.Google Scholar
Gilligan, C (1982) In a Different Voice: Psychological theory and women's development, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Glaser, BG (1992) Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis: Emergence vs Forcing, Mill Valley CA, Sociology Press.Google Scholar
Goffee, R and Scase, R (1982) Female entrepreneurs: Some preliminary research findings Service Industries Review 2: 22–30.Google Scholar
Goffee, R and Scase, R (1985) Women in charge: The experiences of female entrepreneurs, London, George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Goffee, R and Scase, R (1986) Women, business start-up and economic recession, In Donckels, R and Meijer, J (Eds) Women in Small Business: Focus on Europe, Assen, Van Gorcum & Comp.Google Scholar
Greenhaus, J and Singh, R (2003) Work–family linkages, a Sloan work and family encyclopaedia entry Chestnut Hill MA, Boston CollegeGoogle Scholar
Gutek, BA and Groff-Cohen, A (1992) Sex ratios, sex role spillover, and sex at work: A comparison of men's and women's experiences, In Mills, AJ and Tancred, P (Eds) Gendering Organizational Analysis, Newbury Park CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Haar, J (2006) The downside of coping: Work–family conflict, employee burnout and the moderating effects of coping strategies Journal of Management & Organization 12(2): 146–159.Google Scholar
Hamilton, RT (1987) Motivations and aspirations of business founders International Small Business Journal 6: 70–78.Google Scholar
Harris, C, Lewis, K and Massey, C (2005) Nice Rhetoric, But it's Not Quite Us: Work-life balance and NZ SME owners. http://sme-centre.massey.ac.nz/Google Scholar
Hill, EJ, Hawkins, AJ, Ferris, M and Weitzman, M (2001) Finding an extra day a week: The positive influence of perceived job flexibility on work and family life balance, Family Relations 50: 49–58.Google Scholar
Hisrich, RD and Brush, CG (1988) Women entrepreneurs: Problems and opportunities, In Larwood, L and Rose, S (Ed.) Women's Careers: Pathways and Pitfalls, New York, Praeger.Google Scholar
Huberman, AM and Miles, MB (1994) Data management and analysis methods, In Denzin, NK and Lincoln, YS (Eds) Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Hyrsky, K (1999) Entrepreneurial metaphors and concepts: An exploratory study, International Small Business Journal 18: 13–34.Google Scholar
Kahn, RM, Wolfe, DM, P, QR, Snock, JD and Rosenthal, RA (1964) Organizational Stress: Studies in role conflict and ambiguity, New York, Wiley.Google Scholar
Kim, JLS and Ling, CS (2001) Work–family conflict of women entrepreneurs in Singapore, Women in Management Review 16: 204–221.Google Scholar
Kirk, J and Miller, ML (1986) Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research, Beverly Hills CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Kirkwood, J (2004) One Size Doesn't Fit All: Gender differences in motivations for becoming an entrepreneur, Department of Management, Dunedin, University of Otago. Unpublished PhD Thesis.Google Scholar
Kossek, EE and Ozeki, C (1998) Work–family conflict, policies, and the job-life satisfaction relationship: A review and directions for organizational behavior-human resources research, Journal of Applied Psychology 83: 139–149.Google Scholar
Kvale, S (1996) Interviews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing, Thousand Oaks CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Lawrence, S (2006) An integrative model of perceived available support, work–family conflict and support mobilisation Journal of Management & Organization 12: 160–179.Google Scholar
Lee-Gosselin, H and Grisé, J (1990) Are women owner-managers challenging our definitions of entrepreneurship? An in-depth survey, Journal of Business Ethics 9: 423–433.Google Scholar
Longstreth, M, Stafford, K and Mauldin, T (1987) Self-employed women and their families: Time use and socioeconomic characteristics Journal of Small Business Management, 25: 30–37.Google Scholar
Loscocco, KA (1997) Work–family linkages among self-employed women and men Journal of Vocational Behaviour 50: 204–226.Google Scholar
Loscocco, KA and Robinson, J (1991) Barriers to women's small-business success in the united states, Gender & Society 5: 511–532.Google Scholar
Mallette, H and McGuinness, N (1999) Gender differences in the entrepreneurial start-up process, Paper presented at the 44th ICSB world conference, Naples, Italy.Google Scholar
Mallon, M and Cohen, L (2001) Time for a change? Women's accounts of the move from organizational careers to self-employment British Journal of Management 12: 217–230.Google Scholar
Malveaux, J (1990) Women in the labour market: The choices women have, In OECD (Ed) Enterprising women: Local initiatives for job creation, Paris, OECD.Google Scholar
Mangione, TW (1995) Mail surveys: Improving the quality, Thousand Oaks CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Marcinjus, WC, Whelan-Berry, KS and Gordon, JR (2007) The relationship of social support to the work–family balance and work outcomes of midlife women, Women in Management Review 22: 86–111.Google Scholar
Marlow, S (1997) Self-employed women – new opportunities, old challenges? Entrepreneurship & Regional Development 9: 199–210.Google Scholar
Marlow, S and Strange, A (1994) Female entrepreneurs - success by whose standards?, In Tanton, M (Ed) Women in Management: A developing presence, London, Routledge.Google Scholar
Martins, LL, Eddleston, KA and Veiga, JF (2002) Moderators of the relationship between work–family conflict and career satisfaction, Academy of Management Journal 45: 399–409.Google Scholar
Miettinen, A (1986) Contributing spouses and the dynamics of entrepreneurial families, In Donckels, R and Meijer, J (Eds) Women in Small Business: Focus on Europe, Assen, Van Gorcum & Comp.Google Scholar
Minniti, M, Bygrave, WD and Autio, E (2005) Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: 2005 Executive Report, Babson College.Google Scholar
Moore, DP and Buttner, EH (1997) Women Entrepreneurs: Moving beyond the glass ceiling, Thousand Oaks CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Moult, S and Anderson, AR (2005) Enterprising women: Gender and maturity in new venture creation and development Journal of Enterprising Culture 13: 255–271.Google Scholar
Reynolds, HT (1993) Analysis of nominal data, In Lewis-Bec, MS (Ed) Basic Statistics, London, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Rosa, P and Hamilton, D (1994) Gender and ownership in UK small firms Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice 18: 11–27.Google Scholar
Schindehutte, M, Morris, M and Brennan, C (2001) Female entrepreneurs and their children: Implications for family life, career aspirations and entrepreneurial perceptions, Paper Presented at the Babson-Kaujfnan Entrepreneurship Research Conference, Jonkoping, Sweden.Google Scholar
Schindehutte, M, Morris, M and Brennan, C (2003) Entrepreneurs and motherhood: Impacts on their children in South Africa and the United States Journal of Small Business Management 41: 94–107.Google Scholar
Shane, S, Kolvereid, L and Westhead, P (1991) An exploratory examination of the reasons leading to new firm formation across country and gender Journal of Business Venturing 6: 431–446.Google Scholar
Shelton, BA (1992) Women, Men and Time: Gender differences in paid work, housework and leisure, Westport CT, Greenwood Press.Google Scholar
Shelton, LM (2006) Female entrepreneurs, work–family conflict, and venture performance: New insights into the work–family interface Journal of Small Business Management 44: 285–297.Google Scholar
Silverman, D (2000) Doing Qualitative Research: A practical handbook, London, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Sinclair, A (2000) Gender = men + women: Why men's experiences should be part of management studiesMt Eliza Business Review Summer/Autumn: 9–16.Google Scholar
Smith, CR (2000) Managing work and family in small ‘copreneurial’ business: An Australian study Women in Management Review 15: 283–291.Google Scholar
Stainback, S and Stainback, W (1988) Understanding and conducting qualitative research, Dubuque IA, The Council for Exceptional Children.Google Scholar
Statistics New Zealand (2005) Demographic Trends, Wellington, Statistics New Zealand.Google Scholar
Still, LV and Soutar, GN (2001) Generational and gender differences in the start-up goals and later satisfaction of small business proprietors, Paper presented at Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference, Auckland.Google Scholar
Still, LV and Timms, W (2000) Women's business: The flexible alternative workstyle for women, Women in Management Review 15: 272–282.Google Scholar
Stoner, CR, Hartman, RJ and Arora, R (1990) Work-home role conflict in female owners of small businesses: An exploratory study, Journal of Small Business Management 28: 30–38.Google Scholar
Strauss, A and Corbin, J (1990) Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques, Newbury Park CA, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Ufuk, H and Ozgen, O (2001) Interaction between the business and family lives of women entrepreneurs in Turkey Journal of Business Ethics 31: 95–107.Google Scholar
Walker, E and Webster, B (2004) Gender issues in home-based businesses Women in Management Review 19: 404–412.Google Scholar
Wetherell, M (1977) Social structure, ideology and family dynamics: The case of parenting, In Muncie, J (Ed) Understanding the Family, 2nd ed. London, Sage Publications.Google Scholar
White, J (1999) Work–family stage and satisfaction with work–family balance, Journal of Comparative Family Studies 30: 163–176.Google Scholar
Williams, DR (2004) Effects of childcare activities on the duration of self-employment in Europe Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice 28: 467–486.Google Scholar
Yasbeck, P (2004) The business case for firm-level work-life balance policies: A review of the literature. http://www.dol.govt.nz/PDFs/FirmLevelWLB.pdfGoogle Scholar