Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Alyson Manion
Second Advisor
Patrick Hutchinson
Abstract
This study explored how female public-school teachers (K-12) in the Cayman Islands experienced and managed work-life balance within the intersecting contexts of gender, culture, and institutional demands. Guided by phenomenological principles and framed through role theory, the study examined how participants defined work-life balance, the challenges they encountered, and the strategies they employed to sustain equilibrium between their professional and personal responsibilities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female teachers across the public education system, allowing their lived experiences to inform the analysis. Findings revealed that work-life balance was perceived as a continuous process of negotiation rather than a static state. Participants reported excessive workloads, administrative pressures, and cultural expectations of women as major challenges compounded by the interconnected nature of small-island communities. Despite these barriers, teachers demonstrated resilience through adaptive strategies, including boundary-setting, prioritization, reliance on faith, and seeking support from family, colleagues, and institutional resources. This study contributes to the global and Caribbean discourse on teacher well-being by highlighting how female teachers in small-island contexts navigated complex role expectations. This underscored the need for systemic reforms that address workload, promote flexibility, and strengthen well-being initiatives. Ultimately, the study enhanced the understanding of how cultural, gendered, and structural factors collectively shaped work-life balance for female teachers in the Cayman Islands, offering valuable insights for policy, practice, and future scholarship.
Comment
Ed.D. Dissertation
Recommended Citation
Chambers, Kimone P., "Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Work-Life Balance Among Female Public School Teachers (K-12) In The Cayman Islands" (2025). Doctor of Education Program Dissertations. 64.
https://dune.une.edu/edu_diss/64