Two-Career Family versus One-Career Family

Two-Career Family versus One-Career Family

            There are different studies that are focusing on the career development of individual and how the work is connected with the non-work lives of people. There are different studies that show the strong relationship of work and family, thus it shows that the developmental needs of the family will produce incomplete understanding regarding the career dynamics (Arthur & Hall 1989, p. 159).  

            This paper will focus on give the similarities and differences between the one-career family and the two-career family, and give ideas regarding which is better in the entire development of the individual career.

            The main difference between the one-career and two-career family focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the parents regarding the different needs of the family. The one-career family is considered as the traditional or typical set-up where in the male’s major role is to become the financial provider of the family, and have the greater influence over the family, primarily the decision-making process, while women takes the responsibility of homemaker such as taking care and raising the children and handling different household chores. One-career family focuses on the fact that men give focuses on their career, and considered family time as their secondary responsibility. On the other hand, two-career family is considered as the product of the evolution and development of the rights of the women in terms of education and status in the society. In this family career set-up, both the husband and the wife are employed. The said new set-up had been driven by different factors and changes in the external environment such as the dramatic increase to the cost of living that is the reason why women or wives are deciding to work together with the husband.

            If we are going to analyze the situation in terms of financial aspect, it can be said that two-career family have the advantage, this is due to the fact that both parents are considered as source for money and living of the family. That is the reason why most of the families in the two-career setup have much budget to spend in different activities such as vacation and travel. In addition to that, most of them can send their children in best schools. This is opposite to the one-career family where in the wife or the woman is dependent to her husband. That is the reason why most of the families today are implementing the two-career family setting.

            On the other hand, quality time is considered as one of the most important aspect in different debates and studies regarding the difference between one-career and two-career family. As mentioned in the first part of the paper, the women or wives play the role of the homemaker, focusing on the needs and demand of the children. Therefore, in this kind of set up, one of the parents have the time to have a direct connection and bonding to the children. This enables the parents to focus the development and changes of the children, therefore they have the knowledge on what is going on, physically and emotionally about their children. The said aspect is important, especially during the time of puberty. On the other hand, quality time is considered as the disadvantage or drawback of the two-career family. Most of the parents, who are practicing the two-career family setup are working full time, it means that when they got home, they are already tired and stress at work, and all they want to do is to have their rest. That is why; they no longer have that much time in connecting or communicating with their children. This can affect the emotional condition of the children that can lead to rebellion, drugs, early pregnancy and other issues that are related.

            It is also important to consider the development and empowerment of women. As we all know, the one-career family follows the traditional way where in women are dependent on men in financial aspect. Due to the fact that women stayed at home, they don’t have the time to focus on their career development. If the wife had finished college or attain certain degree, she will never have the chance to improve or to develop their skills, knowledge and abilities. Then, there is a big chance that she will forget what she have learned. On the other hand, in the case of women inside a two-career family, they will have the chance to explore what field they have chosen, thus it can help them to practice what they have learned, and continue their learning process. The said situation can be observed in the increasing number of women that are entering the work force in different fields in different countries.

            The issue regarding the debates regarding which one is better between one-career and two-career family had been focus of different studies and researches. There are different people and studies that show that two-career family is the most applicable setup in modern societies, while there are many people that are saying that one-career family is still best for the children.

            There are three most important factors that differentiate the two family setups: the roles and responsibilities; the quality time; and the individual development of women, inside the family as well as in the entire society.  

            Two out of the three factors can be considered as the advantage or edge of the two-career family. In terms of roles and responsibilities, it does not follow the traditional way of division of labor. In this setup, both the wife and the husband have the same level of responsibility in terms of financial and home care aspects. It follows another advantage of the setup where in it helps to lessen and remove the gap between the status of men and women in the society. In addition to that, it also helps many families to have a good living, in terms of financial aspect. On the other hand, one-career family has the advantage in terms of the quality time, which is considered as the most important aspect in the family due to the fact that it focuses on the relationship, connection and communication between the parents and the children.

 

           

           

           

 

           

           

           

 

 

References

 

Arthur, M, Hall, D & Lawrence, B (eds.) 1989, Handbook of Career Theory, Cambridge University Press

 

Hansen, S & Rapoza, R 1978, Career Development and Counseling of Women, University of Michigan

 

O’Dorisio, M S 2003, ‘Two-Career Families: Published Data and Personal Reflections’, Experimental Biology and Medicine, vol. 228, pp. 1266 – 1268, viewed 23 October 2008, <http://www.ebmonline.org/cgi/content/ful l/228/11/1266>