María del Carmen Rodríguez Menéndez

Empleo y maternidad: el discurso femenino sobre las dificultades para conciliar familia y trabajo

This paper describes some conclusions from a study conducted to research issues in families to balance their working and private life. We analyze the womens speech on the role played by profitable work in the configuration of their identity and issues derived from of trying to balance it with their family life. By means of discussion groups, the research study concludes that women that work are satisfied with their employment. Nevertheless, they also recognize they have much trouble in balance work and private life. Likewise, it confirms that employment choices of women are conditioned by maternity. Presence of children in their life is the main reason put forward by women to reduce or eliminate workload and time.

Los programas de formación ocupacional: una alternativa al término de la educación obligatoria

This paper analyzes the knowledge of pupils finishing the compulsory education about the program of professional qualification. We present some results and conclusions from a study carried out in the Principality of Asturias, with 2,260 pupils, who are in the 4th year of Secondary Compulsory Education, about their academic and professional expectations for the future. The results obtained allow us to conclude that pupils haven’t got enough information about these programs, regardless of where they live. So we believe that this situation would be able to change if both school centres and local agents together develop a proposal of vocational counselling.