Conflict that tears at many women p.10

By: Dorothy Giobbe

MOST DISCUSSIONS OF women's advancement invariably make reference to the "big picture" ? those long-standing issues that women finesse on a daily basis.
One conflict that continues to tear at many women is the juggling of work and family responsibilities. Ladder-climbing requires hours that otherwise might be spent with family. If children are part of the picture, many women say, the family's tug is even stronger.
"I constantly think about how much time I'm spending here, versus how much time I'm spending with them," said Bobbie Jo Buel, managing editor for the Arizona Daily Star.
Geneva Overholser of the Washington Post said that she has worked with several high-level newswomen who ultimately decided that family commitments took priority over office demands.
Describing the long hours and extraordinary dedication necessary to advancement, Overholser said that, "A lot of women decide it's not worth it, and some of them have backed away."
Even though it's become more common for men to pitch in with child-care duties, Overholser added that such responsibilities are "more costly" to women.
If women do want to spend more time at home with children or their spouse, Pam Johnson of the Arizona Republic emphasized that they should inform top management.
"Speak up," advised Johnson. "Say, 'Here's what I want to do with my career and here's what I can do at a given time.' I think that's not only acceptable, but also respected and valued."
Whatever the pace of advancement, advised Marion Gregory of the Raleigh News & Observer, women should keep career goals in perspective and take the long view.
"When some men start out, they see the end of their careers and where they want to be, where they want to get to," Gregory said. "They take chances that push them along. I think that's not true as much of women, partly because of the way we've been socialized."