Affiliations: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden | Department of Health Science, Mid Sweden University,
Sundsvall, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Christina Ahlgren, Department of
Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University,
SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden. Tel.: +46907866052; Fax: +4690769267; E-mail:
chrstina.ahlgren@physiother.umu.se
Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study was to from a gender
perspective, explore elementary school teacher' experiences of their work
situation, and identify conditions that could be health risks. Participants: Eighteen female teachers who work in an elementary
school in Northern Sweden. Method: Thematic interviews were conducted using an interview guide.
The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content
analysis was used to analyse the transcribed text and interpretations were made
within gender theory. Results: Four categories emerged: "Squeezed between dream and
reality", "Effort to keep up with demands", "We can make it together" and "The
school needs men's qualities". The categories were linked together with the
theme "A struggle for time to teach". The theme describes the conflict between
the teachers' ambitions to teach and create a stimulating learning environment
versus the increased need for behaviour control that took time from classroom
work. Beside work at the school, the teachers carried a large burden of
domestic work. Conclusions: Teachers' work includes both endless demands and great
joy. Their work is structured within the schools gender system in which caring
duties are subordinated despite a growing demand for behaviour control.
Traditional gender roles affect their domestic work load.
Keywords: Work load, behaviour control, qualitative analysis, gender, work-home balance
DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2011-1272
Journal: Work, vol. 40, no. Supplement 1, pp. 111-118, 2011
