Intensification of Work in Female Professions : The Hidden Dimension

As mentioned in the call for papers, a certain number of authors have studied the intensification of work over the last decades. However much of the work related to intensification has tended to be done in sectors such as multimedia, IT, finance, and other sectors related to the Knowledge Economy and, often, in male sectors. However, many women work under a strong pressure and intensification of work has also touched female jobs, such as the hospitality, restaurant and airline (stewards), amongst others. Our paper will look at how the professional and domestic spheres are very closely intertwined, and how more challenges emerge as intensification of work increases in these sectors. In the restaurant and hospitality sector, it is the reduction of personnel and increase in what is required of workers. In the airline industry, it is the passage from one steward for 40 passengers, to one for 50, that has contributed strongly to intensify work. Intensification has an impact on working hours, atypical work schedules and, in turn, on family activities, as well as on stress and sometimes even burnout. Our paper will present the results from some research done in these two sectors and show how intensification of work is particularly challenging for women, as it impacts also on their work-family articulation and personal time. Our paper will shed light on these situations and present a contrasted view of work-family articulation, characterized simultaneously by obstacles and work advantages in these sectors.