JUGGLING WORK AND FAMILY: THE DAILY REALITY OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR NIGERIAN WOMEN

Abstract

For many Nigerian women, life feels like a constant race against time, one that starts before the
first cock crows and stretches late into the night. Whether she is selling goods in the market, working in an
office, or running a small business, the Nigerian woman often carries responsibilities that do not pause or
shift, they simply pile up. Within the scope of our Nigerian jurisprudence, it is no longer news how women
who are employees of labour struggle to balance out their work-life and their lives as family women.
Juggling work and family is a really demanding daily reality for many Nigerian women, often described as
a ‘double shift’ or ‘second shift,’ where they manage intense professional demands alongside primary
responsibility for home, children, and elderly care. In a society with deeply rooted patriarchal norms, such
as the typical Nigerian society, women frequently face work-life imbalance due to rigid workplace
structures and the cultural expectation that they remain the primary caregivers, even when contributing
financially to the household. This paper explores how women move from preparing meals and getting
children ready for school to facing long commutes, demanding bosses, and tight deadlines, only to return
home to another round of duties. It shows that what is often called ‘work-life balance’ is, in reality, a
continuous act of adjustment and sacrifice. Cultural expectations, financial demands, and limited
workplace flexibility make it even harder to find breathing space. This paper serves as a reminder that
behind every functioning home and workplace is a woman doing far more than meets the eye.