Work and family life balance of women in the informal sector: a case study of market women at the Kumasi central market.
| dc.contributor.author | Osei-Boateng, Dorcas Maame Dufie | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-08T15:44:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-08T15:44:26Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-06 | |
| dc.description | A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfilment Of The Requirements For The Degree Of Master Of Philosophy In Sociology. | |
| dc.description.abstract | Work and family life balance has gained growing prominence in research, organisations and government policies because of its significant impact on the worker and the organisation. It is critically important to informal sector women, who perform the roles of a worker, mother and or wife simultaneously. This study sought to understand work and family life balance from the perspective of the market women, the dynamics in their family structure and work related experiences and their choice of strategies to achieve work and family life balance. By using qualitative research tool of interview, this study found that work and family life balance were two different entities with unique demands that required different approaches to manage each of them. The financial strength of the women was also crucial to their ability to achieve work and family life balance. It was also identified that the need for balance between work and family depended on their life course and changes in their family structure. Finally, social support from family and institutions, personal plans of experience, planning and management and the autonomy and flexibility of their work were the informal approaches market women employed in achieving work and family life balance. Based on the findings, the study recommends that economic empowerment of women should be undertaken in addition to the social protection and welfare policies to ensure the holistic empowerment of the woman. Again, considering the benefits (both micro and macro levels) derived from the informal sector, this study recommends that attention should be paid to the informal sector women by improving the environment within which they work to ensure that they also enjoy quality of life. Finally, this study recommends that the study should be replicated in other parts of the country especially in patrilineal societies to identify similarities and differences in findings, which would ultimately add to existing body of knowledge on work and family life balance. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | KNUST | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir.knust.edu.gh/handle/123456789/16493 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | KNUST | |
| dc.title | Work and family life balance of women in the informal sector: a case study of market women at the Kumasi central market. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |