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Unmasking work-family balance barriers and strategies among working fathers in the workplace

Author

Listed:
  • Sabrina Tanquerel

    (Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School)

  • Marc Grau-Grau

    (Harvard Kennedy School)

Abstract

This article explores the barriers and strategies experienced by Spanish working fathers regarding work-family balance. Based on 29 in-depth interviews with Spanish working fathers in different types of organizations and sectors, the results of this study present different barriers that are divided into three groups: contextual barriers, organizational barriers and internalized barriers. The results also suggest that the study's participants fall into three categories or patterns: hegemonic gender order conformers, borderers and deviants, who use three different strategies (no strategies, invisible strategies and visible strategies) to overcome the barriers detected in this research. The dynamics of reinforcing, being complicit and challenging hegemonic masculinities within the workplace are discussed in light of recent theories regarding gender and organizations, masculinities and fatherhood.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabrina Tanquerel & Marc Grau-Grau, 2020. "Unmasking work-family balance barriers and strategies among working fathers in the workplace," Post-Print hal-02945399, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02945399
    DOI: 10.1177/1350508419838692
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-02945399v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Erin Reid, 2015. "Embracing, Passing, Revealing, and the Ideal Worker Image: How People Navigate Expected and Experienced Professional Identities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 997-1017, August.
    2. Isabelle Huault & Véronique Perret & André Spicer, 2012. "Beyond macro and micro emancipation," Post-Print halshs-00804129, HAL.
    3. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10845 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Patrick Haack & Jost Sieweke, 2018. "The Legitimacy of Inequality: Integrating the Perspectives of System Justification and Social Judgment," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 486-516, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mayra Ruiz‐Castro & Marc Grau‐Grau & Ioana Lupu & Maria Daskalaki & Kathleen L. McGinn, 2024. "Social reproduction: Households, public policies, and alternative organizing," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1182-1195, July.
    2. Gerlinde Mauerer, 2025. "Fatherhood Practices and Shared Parental Leave: Advancing Gender Equity in Parenting," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Gerlinde Mauerer, 2023. "Paid Parental Leave in Correlation with Changing Gender Role Attitudes," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Sabrina Tanquerel & Marc Grau-Grau, 2023. "Untangling the characteristics of men who dare to break the “ideal worker” norm," Post-Print hal-04287291, HAL.
    5. Sophie Hennekam & Jasmine Kelland & Jean‐Pierre Dumazert, 2023. "Paternal supervisor gatekeeping: How supervising fathers hinder other fathers at work in their uptake of flexible work arrangements," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 94-111, January.
    6. Carla Brega & Mara A. Yerkes & Marc Grau-Grau, 2026. "Fathers Combining Work and Care: Flexible Work Arrangements and Paternal Involvement Across Financial Situations," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 40(2), pages 225-249, April.

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