Self-employment and experiences of support in a work–family context

Using a life course lens with a focus on linked lives, this study explores experiences and perceptions of support through in-depth interviews with 22 self-employed men and women with children. Experiences of informal support were varied and complex, with multiple layers of support often operating simultaneously. With few exceptions, gender differences in perceived support reflected traditional role expectations. While men and women both spoke of the importance of emotional support, women more often identified spouses' financial support as essential to operating a business, whereas men valued instrumental support in the form of childcare and domestic activities. Informal communities of support comprised of other self-employed people were valued for mentoring, assistance, and friendship, and were less emotionally intense compared to experiences of support from family members. Parents generally misunderstood or were unaware of the potential for formal government support through the Canadian government's Employment Insurance Special Benefits for Self-Employed People program.