Abstract:

Previous research and an understanding of traditional societal expectations show women and men are both leading a faster paced lifestyles now compared to previous generations. Life for women who work outside the home has filled up daily calendars, and depleted potential down time, creating a sense of uncertainty. Maybe something related to how speeding up the pace, increased pressure to provide help with finances, and increased anxiety and stress may contribute to feelings of uncertainty about the future and a desire to find a level of control of their time. However, few studies explore what a “busy” lifestyle means for women in the United States, and how the pace of their life affects their everyday lives and choices.

Using an interpretive approach to gain a rich understanding (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) of how women socially construct time and reduce potential uncertainty in relation to their fast-paced lives, women (N =22) ages 21-68, who identified as “busy” were recruited through purposeful and snowball sampling techniques (Welch, 1975). Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview approach to provide the opportunity to explore additional topics. Of these women, (n=12) women had an advanced education and salaried jobs, and (n=10) women did not have higher education degrees and were paid on an hourly basis.

A thematic analysis coding process was employed in order to note the repeated concepts that emerged through the lived experiences of all participants (Gibbs, 2007). When a new category was created, prior transcripts were reread and some items re-coded, implementing a constant-comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Once theoretical saturation was reached, interviews ceased (Corbin & Strauss, 2008).

This project contributes to ongoing research related to pace of life and to the extension of uncertainty management theory by exploring control as a response to uncertainty, specifically control as an uncertainty management tool when living and maintaining a fast-paced lifestyle. Results indicated women focused on controlling time and activities yet reported a lack of control over time and activities. However, women with hourly employment and without an advanced education reported more of a focus on feeling “tired” rather than glorifying their “busy” lifestyle. These results support the literature claiming a re-establishment of order and control when feelings of control are threatened (Shepherd, et al., 2001). Implications from these findings are explored including how attempting to manage the uncertainty of life created by its pace is a never-ending struggle for women.

Keywords:

Fast-paced lifestyles, thematic analysis, time, uncertainty management theory.