Perceptions of women school managers about work-family and family-work conflicts

From the past to the present, it can be seen that women are taking more and more place in work life and even though they are very few compared to men, they have started to take part as managers. There are many articles and theses about the supportive and preventive situations experienced by women in the management staff within their families and their work also, effects of these experiences in their work and family life. The aim of this study, which was conducted in the qualitative design, was to investigate the work-family conflict and the ways in which coping with this situation experienced by the women managers of private or public schools who could not balance the work and family life. Twenty four female principals and assistant principals working in schools contributed this study, twelve of them were - four primary schools, four secondary schools and four high schools- from private schools, as well as twelve of them were - four primary schools, four secondary schools and four high schools— from public schools. As a result of the analyzes, it was found out that female managers working in both public and private schools find their working hours irregular and long. Again, women managers in both sectors stated that they do not let their families to negatively affect their jobs, but that their jobs have a negative impact on their family life. Female managers who cannot cope with business/family conflict tend to resign their positions as managers.