Work/family life by 2040: Between a gig economy and traditional roles

Abstract

This research envisions four future scenarios of work/life balance for Mexican families by 2040. The incorporation of mothers into the labor market mainly affected the work/life balance of women, but the research concludes that this issue is not unique to only women. Twenty semistructured interviews were conducted with families, including both men and women experiencing this conflict, and a trend analysis was performed to identify the main drivers of change that can affect the work/life balance of families. The analysis identified two critical uncertainties for constructing a scenario matrix using the deductive intuitive logic approach. The results show that the current economic reality forces household members, including both males and females, to adapt the family structure and dynamic to work needs. This transformation of middle-class families shows the need to identify the issue as a gender-neutral social conflict to define actions that reduce work pressures and achieve a family dynamic allowing a better work/life balance for the entire family and not only for women.