This master thesis explores how women in digital journalism balance work and private life, a profession characterised by atypical working hours, precarious jobs and the expectation that the worker will always be available to the employer. All of this is set in the wider context of greedy organisations in a neoliberal world that require employees to sacrifice their free time. The thesis focuses on the impact of motherhood and flexible working on work-life balance, as well as on gender (in)equality in the media industry. In doing so, we highlight the persistence of traditional gender roles and the expectations organisations have of women, which are often at odds with the reality of their lives. Methodologically, the empirical part of the master thesis was based on a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 14 female digital journalists. The findings show that flexible forms of work facilitate work-life balance, while often blurring the boundaries between professional and private life. Atypical working hours are the most difficult for women journalists to reconcile. Many journalists perceive motherhood as essentially antithetical to journalism, and many leave the profession or experience career stagnation. At the same time, they face societal expectations that place them in a subordinate role compared to their fellow journalists. Our findings suggest the need for changes in the organisational culture of media companies to end the adaptation of female journalists to masculinised working patterns and to facilitate work-life balance, even if or when they become mothers.
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