Boundary Work, Definition(s) of

"The mental and behavioral activities that make up the 'strategies, principles, and practices we use to create, maintain, and modify cultural categories'," (Desrochers & Sargent as cited by Nippert-Eng, 1996)

"Applied to work and family, Nippert-Eng states that boundary work involves 'the process through which we organize potentially realm-specific matters, people, objects, and aspects of self into "home" and "work," maintaining and changing these conceptualizations as needed and/or desired' (p. 7). She goes on to argue that boundary work 'is first and foremost a mental activity, but it must be enacted and enhanced through a largely visible collection of essential, practical activities'such as 'wearing different or similar clothes at home and work…having coworkers over for dinner, or not; bringing children to the workplace, or not' etc." (Desrochers citing Nippert-Eng, 1996, p.7-8)

Source:

Desrochers S. & Sargent, L. (2003, September 09). Boundary/Border Theory and Work-Family Integration, A Sloan Work and Family Encyclopedia Entry. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.

As defined by Desrochers citing Nippert-Eng: Nippert-Eng, C. (1996). Home and work. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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