Work-family Balance of Chinese Women: A Study of Women Software Professionals

One of the significant changes witnessed in the labor markets in China has been the entry of women IT professionals in the rapidly growing software services sector. As the women take on the role of working professional in addition to their traditional role of the homemaker, they are under great pressure to balance their work and personal lives. This study attempts to understand how work and family related factors influence the work-family balance of Chinese women IT professionals. The study is based on an exploratory qualitative study of 13 women IT professionals in the software sector in Beijing, China. The narratives reveal six major themes: familial influences on life choices; multi-role responsibilities and attempts to negotiate them; self and professional identity; work life challenges and coping strategies; organizational policies and practices; and social support. Keywords: Women, Software, Work-family balance, China