I passed out a questionnaire to staff and students at Lewis & Clark College. the questions for the staff were about how much time they spent on work/family/leisure, how they identified with their work, how being married or having children affected their work, and issues about satisfaction with their lives. Questions for students covered what kind of work they hoped to pursue, what expectations they had about work, how they envisioned their family, what kind of company benefits would be important to them, and thoughts on job security. Following are some interesting responses...

STAFF
"Technology certainly will speed up processes & alloy a greater number of people to communicate from distances, but the human resource & personality is LOST with these advances."

"As far as I know being married doesn't help a woman in her career. As far as harm: I chose to stay home with my children I've been out of the work force for 14 years & to many employers that's like being off hte face of the earth ... My husband's career was unaffected by having children. He has over 20 years experience in his field where I am just beginning - a big disadvantage in these times of high divorce!"

Regarding change in society's view on gender roles:
"The only thing that has changed is women are expected to go to work & be great mothers, wives & employees. There is a lot of lip service to support working parents but very little actual support - company child care - a dream, schools taking working parents' schedule into consideration when making school closures - another dream."

"It has changed for the better, however it is really hard to be a mom and work full-time - that hasn't' changed, really."

"We don't work more. When I stayed home with four babies, I worked or was 'on call' 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Women with children at home and who also work outside the house still don't work more than they used to, but the stress is greatly increased by several things, especially the abdication of personally caring for the children at home (this is sometimes erased if the husband/father stays at home). It is increased by time constraints, in spit of labor-saving devices. It is increased by job pressures in the workplace. It is increased by communications and technological information that are ever expanding to the point where people simply hit 'overload.'"

Regarding how having children affects work:
"I need a flexible supervisor (I have one) who lets me work flex-hours to fit with my children's schedules. It is very difficult to work rigid hours unless you can afford a nanny.

STUDENTS

Regarding what kind of company benefits are necessary:
"Flexible time and corner office with a window would be nice. I'm not sure about companies emphasizing any sort of family values are really necessary; it's not their job."

"Not being held accountable to a time card is most important for me. I would like a work environment which is rooted in the community - involved, concerned parents would be nice." (wants to be a teacher)

"Beneficial company benefits would have to include flexible time or understanding regarding children's needs. That children are not important in society currently is obvious. It seems lamentable that women with children must de-emphasize their family if they are to succeed in the work place. Otherwise, ability must be shelved until the children are grown."

Regarding the changes technology will bring:
"Computers have and will totally wreck the minds of children, I think they may begin to opt for virtual everything over REAL boredom, excitement, pleasure, etc."

"I don't believe that technology will solve our problems but it definitely helps with mechanical and routing tasks. It will also require progressively more education to get a job."

Regarding how having children will affect your time and work:
"Raising children will require lots of time and dedication. At this time I am not sure I can ever be able to provide it."

"It seems like at this point in history, the general overpopulation in the world makes us to be less concerned with concentrating on family values and raising children."

Regarding fear about job security:
"Yes, this fear is always with a reality-oriented person."

"I feel that job security, in the current situation, is a thing of the past. Unless one is involved in an essential service, 'downsizing' is a way of life. The definition of essential is also shrinking. I have to reason to expect job security."

Regarding satisfaction from work:
"I expect to feel, at the end of the day, that I have done something worthwhile, that I have earned the respect of colleagues and myself."