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Norwegian Working Fathers in Global Working Life
Author(s) -
Børve Hege Eggen,
Bungum Brita
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
gender, work and organization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.159
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1468-0432
pISSN - 0968-6673
DOI - 10.1111/gwao.12086
Subject(s) - norwegian , working life , masculinity , family life , internationalization , working mother , working environment , working hours , working group , work (physics) , psychology , sociology , gender studies , political science , developmental psychology , business , engineering , quality (philosophy) , mechanical engineering , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology , labour economics , international trade , economics , law
This article examines the impact that global working life has on working fathers’ practices and family life. The internationalization of working life implies that different traditions and practices encounter and challenge each other. The focus is on mothers’ and children's experiences with work–family life and their perceptions of fathers working in global companies. Using a case study approach, we explore how working conditions in global knowledge work organizations affect fathers’ work practices and family life. The findings indicate that working conditions in global working life are gendered and not conducive to the development of the Norwegian fatherhood ideal of the working father. This is due to global and flexible working conditions, which imply long working hours, extensive travel and jetlag‐related problems. Global working conditions produce a traditional masculinity practice, what Connell terms ‘transnational masculinity’, which infringes upon fathers’ practice of being present.