The rhetoric and reality of home–work harmonization: a study of highly skilled Sri Lankan women from public and private sector organizations

Abstract

In this paper, we report on a qualitative study of highly skilled Sri Lankan women. Based on in-depth interviews with early, mid- and late career respondents working for public and private sector organizations in Colombo, we explore the organizational constraints that women perceive to impact their home–work harmonization, while considering what they choose to do about prevailing obstacles. The findings provide insights into the different experiences of home–work harmonization between women from the two sectors and across various career stages. The diverse strategies respondents used to manage organizational constraints are discussed and their implications are noted. Finally, the contributions these findings make to existing understandings of women's home–work dynamics in the South Asia context and more widely are highlighted.

Keywords::

• career
• home–work harmonization
• Sri Lanka
• women