Introduction: Opting Out and In
I.1. A Debated Phenomenon
I.2. A Narrative Approach to Studying Opting Out
I.3. The Narratives
I.4. Introducing the Women
I.5. The Structure of the Book
1. Globalization, Individualization, and Gender in Contemporary Society
1.1. Globalization, Technology, and Media
1.2. Post-traditional, Risk Society
1.3. The Effect of Globalization on Working Culture
1.4. Gendered Organizations
1.5. Focusing on Work-Life Balance: Problems and Paradoxes
1.6. Competing Schemas
1.7. Conclusion
2. Lacking Agency, Coherence, and Control
2.1. Linn: The Love of Work and the Vitality of Living
2.2. Understanding Agency
2.3. Naomi and the Wakeup Call of the Emergency Room
2.4. The Importance of Narrative
2.5. Autonomy: An Alternative View
2.6. Conclusion
3. Gender and Femininity in Contemporary Society
3.1. Amy and the Unexpected Need to Be with Her Children
3.2. The Symbolic, Semiotic, and Maternal
3.3. Mediated Womanhood
3.4. Ella: Stepping Off the Ladder while Staying On at Work
3.5. Contemporary Feminism and the Freedom to Choose
3.6. Conclusion
4. Opting In
4.1. Michelle: The Journey from Incoherence to Coherence and Control
4.2. Reinvention
4.3. Nora’s Story: "I pulled the hand brake"
4.4. Reflection, Authenticity, and the Threat to Identity
4.5. Conclusion
5. Epilogue: Opting Out and Then What?
5.1. Linn: Confidence in Knowing What She Wants
5.2. Ella: Back on The Fast Track?
5.3. Nora: Getting Her Business Off the Ground
5.4. Michelle and the Ebbs and Flows of Life
5.5. Amy: Getting Back on the Job Market
5.6. Naomi and the Wear and Tear of Constant Transitioning
5.7. Opting Out – A Story of Success?
Biography
Ingrid Biese is an Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Management and Organisation at the Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki, Finland. After having opted out of a career in consulting, Ingrid started working on a PhD, which she received from the Hawke Research Institute at the University of South Australia. Her primary area of research is opting out and in among both men and women, as well as sustainable working cultures and career models. Ingrid has introduced a new definition of opting out to include leaving mainstream career models to adopt new lifestyles where one can live and work on one’s own terms. Other areas of interest are globalization, individualization, identity and gender. Ingrid regularly gives talks and engages in public debates on sustainable careers and lifestyles, for example through her blog theoptingoutblog.com.
