Do women experience multiple roles and demands in their lives?
This woman does...
Teacher, Doctoral student, daughter, friend, mom, committee member, church member, ex-wife (yes...that has a lot of demands too!).
"More often, teachers related their identity to multiple role demands that exist outside of a geographically defined spaces" (Quinn,2008)
I agree with Quinn that "time" governs our lives. So what impact does this limitation of time and multiple demands have on our lives? It pulls us in ways unimaginable. It zaps our energy, sometimes making us lose track of the big picture or prevents us from taking big steps for big changes.
"In our time governed lives, where teachers are challenged by the demands of their cosmopolitan selves, we quickly grab the most accessible device to keep us a float" (Quinn,2008).
We are overloaded in demands and often cannot even think about stepping up to take charge and make real change. So we leave it to others. It is less demanding to complain about something... than it is to put yourself out there through time, energy and risk... to try and make the changes we complain about.
So do we need more hours in a day? I don't think so. We would fill those up with other demands as well. So we continue to rely on those who find time and energy for these demands and we accept things the way they are, unable to find a way to make changes we want.
Kim Moore
Comments (4)
Kim, I like your honesty when it comes to doing your best with the time you have, understanding that having more time may not allow us to accomplish more..just attempt to do more. I appreciate that you think about just doing what you can in the time you can as a way of letting go of stress. In my burnout situation with teaching years ago, I have come to the conclusion that it (the burnout) was just a "sign" that there were new plans set for me; to move on to another aspect of my living and to "push me" in that new direction. In a sense, it was my treasure to be found in the midst of ruin. I am pondering about the article's unwritten point that may be that some teachers may not be count out for the duration of an entire career as a classroom teacher, but more as a transitional career amid many careers in the span of a life time.
Posted by Diane | June 30, 2009 11:20 PM
Posted on June 30, 2009 23:20
Excellent points Kim. Do you think these demands are more intense now that we live in a more global, fast-paced world? What happened to Sunday afternoon's spent in your grandparents backyard eating watermelon and homemade ice cream?
Posted by Melanie | June 30, 2009 11:20 PM
Posted on June 30, 2009 23:20
Well said Kim. As part of the realignment we have just went through at work we now have a new Academic Leadership Team. We each have been asked as part of our team building efforts to complete a Leadership Development Plan. Part of the plan was work related and part was personal. I approached this task very seriously and was left with one lingering question- How on earth am I going to find the time to do this- especially the personal stuff? I lamented about the lack of time but you are absolutely right- if I added more time to a day I would just fill it up with work & school and still not have the answer for the personal stuff.
I wonder how many of us- including the women in the study- will look back one day and regret not using some of the time for ourselves? I think Melanie has hit on an important point- we often feel that as the pace of the world around us speeds up we must keep pace. One of the things I enjoy most about visiting my family in Alabama is that I give myself permission to slow down and as Melanie says- spend some time in the backyard. If I can just make it until the end of July my slow down is coming!
Posted by Christy Forrest | July 1, 2009 7:00 PM
Posted on July 1, 2009 19:00
Well said Kim!
It is interesting that your list doesn't really have space for a hobby, or "me time" or anything like that. In one sense I know what it is like to have everyone want a piece of me (boss, spouse, children, instructors, students). I think that parents pay a significant price for having children in the professional arena. As much as I joke sometimes about being "one of the girls" I really cannot comprehend how much more intensified all of my current demands would be if I were a woman. I am in awe of womanhood in real life (as opposed to the textbooks' versions).
Posted by Alan | July 2, 2009 11:08 AM
Posted on July 2, 2009 11:08