Notion of a healthy work-life balance just a myth

Faculty of Arts & Humanities: Dr Lee-Shae Salma Scharnick-Udemans - Rising Star

DOCTOR Lee-Shae Salma Scharnick-Udemans is the Senior Researcher at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape. She is trained in the intersectional and interdisciplinary study of religion. Her expertise is in religion and media. She says, “I am interested in the production, circulation and meanings of representations and discourses of religious diversity, religious pluralism and religious freedom. Working in a context that is dominated by Christian theology, my research orientation is part of my political commitment to contesting the Christonormative predilections of the field.”

On the subject of the pandemic, she has been trying to allow for a more expansive and nuanced view of the implications of Covid-19 on human existence and experiences. “The category of women is not universal and factors such as race, status, seniority, domestic context, physical ability and health as well as mental health definitely determine the extent to which women academics were affected. “My domestic context is secure, well contained and generally a source of joy and freedom. I live with my husband and our four-year-old son. When the pandemic hit it was difficult not having child care assistance and my usual support system. However, since our home life is structured along principles of altruism, mutuality and respect, my partner and I were able to support each other with the specificity that each of our varying responsibilities demanded.

“We try to live in ways that honour each of our individual capacities and strengths. We still don’t always get it right, but we are continually trying to honour our individual personal and professional journeys as well as our familial commitment to each other and our child. “Having said that, most of my challenges were internal and I struggled with the same feelings of loss, fear, anxiety, anguish, and later grief that many others have reported.

“I think the notion of a healthy worklife balance is a myth. It might just be another patriarchal construction, another unrealistic standard akin to those set by the beauty industry for women to endlessly strive for. I respect if some women feel they have achieved this elusive balance — but I have not, nor do I aspire to.

“It is an honour to do this work, and live a life of earned privilege. Barring the restrictions of living in a pandemic, right now I have the energy and the passion to engage fully with my many lives and I plan to do this to the best of my ability. I speak to my therapist regularly, try to move my body every day, read poetry, binge watch terrible television, take my CBD oil, burn some imphepho, eat some green stuff, drink lots of water and hold my loved ones close.

“I am currently participating in a prestigious programme on the development of public scholarship with North Eastern University in the US. My latest research project explores how women of colour express their religious diversity and religious agency on social media.”