cmn 685 online discussion 2
Please watch the last three videos on “What Works for Women at Work” (Tightrope, Maternal Wall, and Tug of War,) by Joan Williams here: Link (Links to an external site.)
Please also, read this: NPR article (Links to an external site.)
And watch these two videos on the 4-day/32-hour Workweek:
The Four-Day Week | Andrew Barnes | TEDxAuckland (Links to an external site.)
Dangers of the four-day work week? (Links to an external site.)
Answer the following questions:
With regard to the “Tightrope†for women, how can we understand what Williams refers to as the gender “pitfalls†for women in the workplace through a communication lens? What are the communication strategies she recommends to navigate feminine/masculine workplace behaviors and expectations for leaders?
How do the relational burdens on women in the workplace differ from those on men and also work to increase their responsibilities? Williams mentions women doing “office housework,†and also women taking on the “office mom†role. How do these roles for women bring some of the “second shift†into the workplace, as well as increase demands on women with regard to “emotional labor�
How do you think the transition to “remote work†for many professionals may impact the amount of “office housework,†or relational tasks that tend to fall on women at work? How might it also impact “the second shift†in terms of household labor? Do you think that the move of most work onto technology is helpful or more challenging now that the divisions between home and work (the home day/work day) has become so blurry?
With regard to the idea of a 4-day workweek, what are your thoughts on whether and how we can re-address our traditional ideas about work in the 21st century? Do you think moving to a 4-day work week would be good for both businesses and workers (and how so)? What are the benefits of a “well balanced†life? How might the coronavirus crisis be a “reset button†when it comes to thinking about the scope of work, and the possibilities for work-life balance?
