Attitudes, women’s employment and the domestic division of labour

Abstract

This article draws on a repeat of a 1994 survey, carried out in 2002, in three contrasting countries: Britain, Norway and the Czech Republic.The 1994 survey demonstrated that there was a significant association between more 'liberal' gender role attitudes and a less traditional division of domestic labour in all three countries. In 2002, this association was no longer significant for Britain and Norway. Gender role attitudes had become less traditional in all three countries, although women's attitudes had changed more than men's. There had been little change in the gendered allocation of household tasks, suggesting a slowing down of the increase of men's involvement in domestic work. It is suggested that work intensification may be making increased participation in domestic work by men more difficult. Although national governments are becoming more aware and supportive of the problems of work-life 'balance', an increase in competitiveness and intensification at workplaces may be working against more 'positive' policy supports.

Alternative food networks and food provisioning as a gendered act

“…There can be an association between gender role ideology and the gender division of domestic labor (Barnett and Shen 1997;Crompton et al 2005). To measure gender ideology, respondents were asked, "On a scale from 1 to 7, how much do you agree with the following statement: "It is much better for everyone if the man earns the main living and the woman takes care of the home and family."…”

Walking the tightrope between work and non-work life: strategies employed by British and Chinese academics and their implications

“…A study conducted by Joplin et al (2003) across five countries identifies macro-level factors (economic, social, technological, and legal) that shape various personal and organisational approaches to coping with work-life imbalance. Further, state policy towards women, work and childcare leads to crossnational differences in terms of WLB strategies (Crompton, Brockmann, and Lyonette 2005;Windebank 2001). Within WLB decision-making, elements of autonomy are moderated by "a wide range of cultural, institutional and structural factors" (Glover 2002, 263) and these factors have provided part of the explanation as to why there are society-wide similarities in WLB decisions (Ransome 2007).…”

Family Structure and Work Satisfaction: Can Work-Life Balance Policies Foster Happiness in the Workplace

“…1 The New Labour government launched its agenda to promote 'women-friendly policies' as early as in 1997. After ten years of public action relevant authors depict the British model of WLB policies as one in which public intervention, following the traditional approach of a liberal welfare regime, have been more oriented to exhort employers to adopt WLB policies in their establishments rather than to intervene through regulation or public spending (Crompton et al 2005). All in all, some improvements have been introduced concerning mainly leave arrangements (for both mothers and fathers in length and financial coverage) and flexibility in working time.…”