uk-policy uk policy - families

Louise Locock (Louise.Locock@templeton.oxford.ac.uk)
Thu, 21 May 1998 10:53:10 +0100

In the debate about 'family values', Adrian Nutley's original points
seems to have got a bit lost, namely that we have boxed ourselves into a
corner where:
we work crazy hours
two-income households as the norm have all kinds of unintended
consequences
we have lost our focus on what is important.

One of the important things is having time for ourselves (and perhaps in
the process redistributing work more evenly?). Another is having enough
time/money to look after our children, whatever our family structure.
Many of the problems and guilt faced by women (and men) trying to keep
up a fulfilling career and give proper attention to their families would
be considerably reduced if the work norm was not so all-consuming of our
time, energy and commitment.

Just as the debate between nuclear family and other forms is drawn too
strongly in either-or terms, so is the debate on working parents versus
staying at home with the children.

Dr Louise Locock
Research Associate
Templeton College
Oxford OX1 5NY
tel. 01865 422579

e-mail: louise.locock@templeton.ox.ac.uk

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