Email this article Burden or Duty?: The Dynamics of Welfare and Careers for Women of the Sandwich Generation
Abstract
ENGLISH: This study aims to present a conceptual synthesis of the impact of women's roles as the sandwich generation on their health, well-being, and careers. Using a narrative literature review approach, this article analyzes 30 Scopus-indexed articles and books published between 2000 and 2025 that focus on women who work while caring for children and their parents. The results show that sandwich generation women face higher levels of stress, work-family conflict, and irregular self-care, which pose risks to their health. However, negative impacts on subjective health and life satisfaction do not always occur because, in some contexts, the caregiving role provides meaning and social recognition. The study concludes that the role of women as part of the sandwich generation can be a burden or a blessing, depending on how they manage the demands of caregiving and work with adequate support. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of human resource management policies that are responsive to the needs of women of the sandwich generation in Indonesia.
INDONESIAN: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menyajikan sintesis konseptual mengenai dampak peran perempuan sebagai generasi sandwich terhadap kesehatan, kesejahteraan, dan karir mereka. Dengan pendekatan tinjauan pustaka naratif, artikel ini menganalisis 30 artikel dan buku terindeks Scopus yang dipublikasikan antara 2000 hingga 2025 mengenai perempuan yang bekerja sambil mengasuh anak dan orang tua. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perempuan generasi sandwich menghadapi tingkat stres yang lebih tinggi, konflik kerja-keluarga, serta perawatan diri yang kurang teratur, yang berisiko pada kesehatan. Namun, dampak negatif terhadap kesehatan subjektif dan kepuasan hidup tidak selalu terjadi, karena dalam beberapa konteks, peran pengasuhan memberikan makna dan pengakuan sosial. Kesimpulan penelitian mengungkap bahwa peran perempuan sebagai generasi sandwich dapat menjadi beban atau bakti tergantung pada pengelolaan tuntutan pengasuhan dan pekerjaan dengan dukungan yang memadai. Implikasi penelitian ini menekankan pentingnya kebijakan manajemen sumber daya manusia yang responsif terhadap kebutuhan perempuan generasi sandwich di Indonesia.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29300/hawapsga.v7i2.10138
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