Two-career Family versus One-career Family - Literature review Example

Two-career family versus one-career family Two-career family versus one-career family In the recent years, the rate of divorce hasgone high globally and this can be associated to a couple of reasons. One of the reasons is conflict in terms of family resources and career. There are those families in which both parents are working and in some one of the spouses. This essay gives a comparison and contrast of this two set ups. Is it fully beneficial for both families to pursue their careers? Or is it better when one of the parents creates time for family?

According to Blair-Loy (2006) the world today has changed. Both men and women want to advance their career in their own personal capacities. In some accessions, this can be a challenge to the family set up. Nonetheless, it is important for marriage partners to understand their goals and purpose in life in order to overcome this challenge. Money in a two career family is not necessarily a big problem. They can easily access the luxuries of life and still save up to secure their future. With both parents earning, the responsibilities of the family can be shared or distributed equally among them.

Unless there are other differences in the family, the family tends to be happy and socially stable as much of the stress and pressures caused by efforts and hustle to make ends meet are no longer an issue since the payoff is more rewarding. According to Lehman (2005) when marriage partners have equal power to make money decisions, they have a more peaceful union. When it comes to a one career family budgeting is of great importance since the income of one spouse may not be able to cater for all the family’s needs.

With all family members depending on one channel, chances are high that other issues will raise leading to conflict in the family. However, this scenario is dependent on the amount of income the parent is getting. If a working parent is able to make enough money, then it might be hard even to notice the difference. Individuals with well paying jobs, especially men, opt that their spouse stays at home to avoid the pressure and stress of working. On the other hand, if the income from the working spouse is less than what is needed to sustain the family, the spouse is forced to channel all the income to the needs rather than wants.

Leisure activities and vacations or holidays become a rare thing in the family as there is no enough cash to meet such wants. If there are children in the family, the parents will have to be careful to make necessary plans in order to ensure their security in terms of education and health policies. Time spent with the family is of great importance. According to Cox & Demmitt (2009) quality family is necessary to ensure families thrive and remain united. With teenagers in the house in need of parental guidance or toddlers who need the love and care of a mother a one career family is more likely to bring balance.

A stay home mother will have the time to give one on one attention to her kids and assist them with their school assignments unlike a career one. A two career family will need to create time for their children and set their priorities right in order to accommodate all the needs of their children. In doing this, there is a risk that one of the areas will not fully be attended to; either the family or the career. Spouses need to have quality time together so as to ensure that the bond between them is strengthened.

In relation to that, when one of the spouses is not working, the family is able to create time to build the relationship with the extended family members and family friends. This might be hard if both of the parents were committed to their work. There are those who will argue that it is beneficial when both spouses are working. Some will argues that it all depends on the quantity of income each spouse is making. With all these in consideration, it is generally agreed that there is need to create time for children, family members and even family friends.

If one of the spouses is not working, they are able to build bonds. However, these circumstances vary depending on the needs in a family. Situations may force both spouses to work in order to meet the needs of the family. References Top of Form Blair-Loy, M. (2006) Competing Devotions: Career and Family among Women Executives Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Top of Form Lehman, J. D. (2005). Understanding marriage, family, and intimate relationships Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas. Cox, F. D.

, & Demmitt, K. (2009) Human intimacy: Marriage, the family, and its meaning. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form