Juggling: The Unexpected Advantages of Balancing Career and Home for Women and Their Families [Paperback]

Faye J. Crosby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 1993

Wondering if they ought to juggle family and work in the ways they do, women often fall into the trap of self-blame. Psychologist, Faye J. Crosby, argues that the most critical difficulties are not, as they generally suppose, conflicts between life roles, but unfairnesses within each one. The surprising reality is that the admittedly hard effort to juggle demonstrably benefits women and their families. Crosby offers hop to those who seek to minimize the strain of role-combination without sacrificing the advantages.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the stress, doubt and guilt perhaps bound to assail a woman who combines several roles at the same time, Crosby, head of Smith College's psychology department, contends that the need to juggle these responsibilities often improves the performance of each, benefits mental health and makes for happier mother-child relationships. Rather than a how-to guide, this challenging, broadly researched study and review of gender- and sex-role theories since Anna Freud urges women to stop blaming themselves for the difficulties entailed by such multiple roles. Stress, emphasizes Crosby, imposes less strain between the varied functions than within each one, citing such troubles as sexism in the workplace, bad marital relations, acute financial pressures and the like. The author further charges that most of these problems stem from a tension between American individualism and social responsibility.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Yes, claims social psychologist Crosby, there are unexpected benefits for women who juggle careers with family responsibilities. From hundreds of studies and interviews, Crosby provides hard evidence that jugglers are happier, better adjusted, and less prone to depression than women who try to struggle on at home, Donna Reed-style, in nuclear families. Moreover, children and husbands reap benefits also. Bluntly recognizing that motherhood is hard work, Crosby says mothers need to be relieved of the guilt they feel when they give up exclusive care of their children. This solid book is based on research, not speculation, and is sure to provoke discussion in public and academic circles. Recommended.
- Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: The Free Press / Macmillan, Inc. (January 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029069114
• ISBN-13: 978-0029069110
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,789,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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