Final answer:
Sandberg identifies structural societal issues like gender inequality, economic disparities, lack of parental leave, and educational disparities as factors affecting work/family balance. Recommended solutions include equal parental leave policies, closing the pay gap, and women's representation in executive and political roles. Strategies also involve confronting societal discrimination and covert employer practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sandberg addresses structural issues in society that affect work/family balance, including gender inequality, economic disparities, lack of parental leave, and educational disparities. These issues often result in inequitable conditions such as the "motherhood penalty" and the "fatherhood premium," impacting women's employment and promotion opportunities. Gender inequality in the workplace is further exacerbated by the concept of the glass ceiling, which limits women's access to executive roles.
To address these issues and promote a more equitable balance, Sandberg and others recommend implementing policies that provide equal parental leave, addressing the pay gap, and ensuring that women have opportunities to take on political and executive roles. Societal patterns of discrimination and bias, as well as covert practices by employers, need to be addressed to lessen the effects of gender stratification. Furthermore, the number of female-headed households is on the rise, and intra-household inequalities persist, amplified by certain economic policies globally.