The trouble with ‘work–life balance’ in neoliberal academia: a systematic and critical review
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Abstract
The rise of neoliberal governance in the higher education sector and the growing demands that the values of equality be institutionally embedded represent two potentially conflicting trends. In this context, the steady deployment of a neoliberal agenda to organizations has come to interfere with the work–life balance. Whereas the demands of the neoliberal university rely upon a hegemonic work-centric model that can affect academics irrespective of gender, women are more likely to experience work–life conflict and its associated impacts. This article focuses on how work–life conflict has been studied with three main objectives. First, to map the challenges of combining work and private life in the neoliberalised university. Second, to conduct a systematic review of the literature on work–life balance in academia. Third, to discuss findings and limitations in order to propose research recommendations. As the COVID-19 pandemic raises new and specific challenges to work–life balance, more gender inclusive and theoretically informed studies are needed to tackle the blind spots found here.