Abstract

FEBRIANTO, Priyono Tri; MAS’UDAH, Siti  and  MEGASARI, Lutfi Apreliana. Female teachers’ double burden during the pandemic: Overcoming challenges and dilemma between career and family. Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas [online]. 2022, n.100, pp.87-105.  Epub Feb 18, 2023. ISSN 0873-6529.  https://doi.org/10.7458/spp202210025246.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) challenged educators, especially female teachers, as they shouldered the double burden of being both teachers and spouses. This study articulates the online teaching experiences of Indonesian women that work as elementary school teachers. Moreover, the study explores strategies implemented by these teachers to overcome this career-family dichotomy. Carried out in Indonesia’s East Java province, this descriptive mixed method study surveyed 347 married female teachers, 212 of which have school-aged children. Results showed that home-based online teaching created additional burdens for female teacher and they experienced workload resulting from this dual role, further emphasized by the expectation of domestic duties that are primarily enforced on women. Several strategies, including time management, involving their husbands in domestic chores - that strengthened their social support -, and simultaneously teaching their own children along with their students, were implemented. Therefore, couple’s negotiations regarding role division are needed to achieve gender equality within familial structures.

Keywords : Covid-19 pandemic; female teachers; gender equality; family..

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