Abstract: Despite a growing interest in work-life balance (WLB) in faculty, issues on how gender inequality affects university faculty couple’s WLB experiences have not examined. The purpose of this study is to explore different WLB experiences among dual career faculty couples and unveil how gender plays a role in shaping their experience. Using qualitative research methodology, we interviewed ten heterosexual faculty couples (twenty participants) and identified gender discrepancies in demand, resources, challenges, strategies, and emotional labor related to their WLB experiences through a constant comparative analysis. This study also provides an explanation of the cultural demands and faculty’s perceptions that influenced to form their different WLB experiences. We proposed interventions, such as policies and practices for the institution and administrators, to better support female faculty’s balance between work and life.
