Walking a tightrope or navigating a web: Parameters of balance within perceived institutional realities

SynopsisThis paper leverages Structuration Theory within the greater framework of Institutional Theory to broaden the balance discourse cross-culturally. We argue that the application of the balance concept can be expanded if one allows a move beyond the structure-argument for a bi-polar, equal weighting conceptualization of “work” versus “family”, and beyond a process argument focusing on psycho-behavioral components. Instead balance can acknowledge the differences between structure and agency and the interaction between them (i.e., agentic process). Agentic process suggests that women actively seek to address as well as modify a multitude of institutionally mandated and idiosyncratic structures (i.e., roles and responsibilities) through day-to-day behaviors. Ultimately, balance is a matter of the ease of navigation between and across these different types of structure. With a set of qualitative data drawn from three societies within the Arab Middle East, we find preliminary support for an enriched conceptualization of balance readily applicable cross-culturally.