Faculty of Law P r o f e s s o r s u e - M a r I V I l j o e n r I s I n g s ta r
Prioritising communication is effective in balancing home and work As a specialist in Property Law, Professor sue-Mari Viljoen is pecially caretakers (of children, elderly persons and persons who require forms of assistance) were affected in a more deeply engaged in the links between housing law, land profound manner than men, simply because reform and property law in south Africa. Her their care-taking duties could not be shared work is focused on both doctrinal issues by others; they were forced to undertake as well as more theoretical concerns such responsibilities themselves. she is grappling with as she finalises “Women in academia who are carea book, co-authored with Prof G takers were disproportionately Muller, titled Property in Housing, affected, because they had to which will be published by Juta. undertake certain additional At the same time, she is also responsibilities such as eduworking on several presencating their children.” tations that deal with the However, she is quick to Expropriation Bill of 2020 acknowledge that many and the expropriation of unmen suffered under an inderutilised land at a cost of creased burden, too. “This nil rand. does not mean that a large she credits her family for percentage of men workhelping her manage the ing in academia were not workload during the panaffected.” demic. “I have a good supThinking back on the biggest port structure, which allows challenges she experienced quality time to work and mainduring 2020, Prof Viljoen notes tain some balance. I prioritised that her main obstacle was actime with my family and I tried cessing printed materials. “I also to work as effectively as possible. struggled to work efficiently from Having young children often meant working late or early hours of the mornhome, while having to take care of my children. I managed to access books directing. Good communication among family ly from the publishers, and I also members is vital to maintain effeccalled on peers to assist where tive working hours.” “I have a good support structure, necessary. I found assistance from But, of course, she is keenly aware which allows quality time to work a caretaker to look after my chilthat the burden of coping falls disproportionately on women in our dren during parts of the day, espeand maintain some balance.” cially in the mornings.” society. “I think that women, but es-
