Parental Leave in Spain: Use, Motivations and Implications

Meil, Gerardo; Romero-Balsas, Pedro; Rogero-García, Jesús

doi:10.22325/fes/res.2018.32

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Other authors such as Fernández-Lozano (2018) show similar results, pointing toward the differences in paid work reductions, with 4.1% of men and 25.8% of women. Most importantly, 55% of woman that take the full time leave go back to working full time, while 87% of man do so (Meil et al, 2018). The gender gap is close to the familist ideal type described by Sainsbury (1996) that corresponds at an ideological level to the persistence-despite the changes-of the norms and social gender roles at an individual and institutional level as well.…”

Section: Introduction: Theoretical Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…The following table summarizes the most relevant aspects of current parental leave in Spain. 1 The use of the leave since 2007 has increased rapidly, reaching 75% of fathers in 2012, promoting-although limitedly-man's involvement in the care of newborn children (Fernandez-Cornejo et al, 2016;Meil et al, 2018;Romero-Balsas, 2012). Still, Spain has not yet aligned with the most advanced countries in terms of gender equality in childcare (Blum et al, 2017;Moss, 2013).…”

Section: Introduction: Theoretical Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in Spain-taking into account the different types of leave-men take shorter leaves than women, and with less diversity, while women take most of the reductions and extended leaves, assuming the consequences that these decisions have for their professional careers. For instance, Meil et al (2018) show the differences in the use of non-paid leaves among men and women, both full time (0.5% of men and 10.4% of women) and part time (1.8% of men and 19.9% of women) as well as differences in duration (24.4 months for men and 36.3 for women). Other authors such as Fernández-Lozano (2018) show similar results, pointing toward the differences in paid work reductions, with 4.1% of men and 25.8% of women.…”

Section: Introduction: Theoretical Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Ideological Discourses of Fathers on Paternity Leave in Spain

Viñas

2020

Journal of Family Issues

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This article analyzes the ideological discourses of fathers on the use of paternity leave in Spain. The goal is to reconstruct the ideological positions that fathers from different social locations develop around the existence of paternity leave as well as to explore their attitudes toward the impending length equalization of paternity and maternity leaves. A qualitative analysis was applied through the configuration of eight focus groups with fathers from two Spanish cities, Madrid and Barcelona. The results show the diversity of the fathers’ ideological positions in their representations about paternity leave. Different conceptions and degrees of legitimacy are observed, often conditioned by work, and institutional and gender contexts to which these fathers belong. Only some discourses and specific positions back up the change of legislation toward the equivalent duration of paternity and maternity leaves.

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Section: Introduction: Theoretical Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Introduction: Theoretical Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction: Theoretical Context and Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ideological Discourses of Fathers on Paternity Leave in Spain

Viñas

2020

Journal of Family Issues

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“…The result is that Spanish women leave the labour market more frequently than men to attend to family responsibilities (Meil et al, 2018). They also experience more difficulties in returning to the labour market after child rearing (Gutiérrez-Doménech, 2005).…”

Section: Cultural Differences In Wlc and Lwcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender differences in inter-role conflict in Spain

Sánchez-Vidal

Cegarra‐Leiva

Cross

2019

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PurposeThe issue of individual level conflict between work and life roles remains a feature of studies on the issue of work-life balance. However, few studies have examined gender differences in the work-to-life conflict (WLC) and the life-towork conflict (LWC) over a given time span in Spain. This paper addresses this gap in the literature. Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a two-wave (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014) sample of employees with children working in an industrial sector in Spain. FindingsThe 2009 results showed no gender differences in WLC, however, women experienced LWC significantly more than men. Conversely, the 2014 results showed more men suffered WLC and no gender differences were found for LWC. Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation is that, although this study collects data from two time periods in the same sector of activity, it is not a longitudinal study. Findings may not be generalizable due to the over-representation of women in our samples when compared to women in the sector, or to differences with other countries or sectors of activities. Social implicationsOur findings are discussed in the context of the economic crisis, the labour market, and family co-responsibility in Spanish society. Originality/valueFew studies have explored gender differences in inter-role conflict at two time points.This study helps to identify some key findings in terms of co-responsibility. Duxbury, 1992). Additionally, with the changing pace of working life and the reliance on technology at work many employees are expected to be available to work both before and after the normal working day (Butts et al., 2015;Roy, 2016). This exacerbates the problem of conflict between the domains of work and home and is referred to as inter-role conflict; it is the difficulty of participating in one role due to simultaneous participation in another role (Greenhaus and Beutell, 1985). This conflict is generally considered bidirectional: work interferes with life (work-life conflict: WLC) and life interferes with job (life-work conflict: LWC) (Ferri et al., 2018). The negative consequences of inter-role conflict have been well established (Cheng and McCarthy, 2013). Yet, the antecedents and effects of WLC and LWC are considered to differ in the literature. Whereas WLC is expected to lead to outcomes in the private and family domain (e.g. family or marital satisfaction), LWC influences labour outcomes (turnover intentions, absenteeism or professional strain). This research focuses on the negative aspects of the spillover effect. According to Lourel et al. (2009) work and life interferences constitute a primary source of psychological distress for employees, families and organisations. The importance of understanding conflict between work and private roles is emphasised in recent research which has highlighted that inter-role conflict might have a boomerang effect. For example, WLC can impact on organisational behavioural outcomes such as commitment, turnover intentions or job satisfaction, highlighti...

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“…The contradictions also suggest a possible rupture at the level of preference with the more traditional model and openness to attitudes that invite adoption of an "adaptive" model (the one-and-a-half family model, in our case father full-time/mother part-time). These results may be due to the limitations of the public family protection system (childcare leave legislation developed very slowly; Iglesias and Meil 2001), rapid change in the Spanish labour market (from 1992 to 2016, the percentage of Spanish women ages 25-54 with paid employment rose from 38.8% to 65.6% ;Eurostat 2016;Meil et al 2018) and the enduring influence of patriarchal culture. Families are shifting from a single-breadwinner model to models with two earners (Valiente 2010;Moreno Mínguez et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Socio-Structural Perspective on Family Model Preferences, Gender Roles and Work–Family Attitudes in Spain

2018

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Since the early 1990s, the diversity of work–family arrangement models has increased in Spain. It is difficult to understand this phenomenon without attending to the Spanish population’s preferences for such models. This article analyses the attitudes towards gender roles, and family model preferences within a normative and socio-structural framework. Using data from the International Social Survey Programme 2012, we developed descriptive and explanatory analyses. The findings reveal contradictions between attitudes towards the mother’s and father’s work intensity and gender roles that seem to be resolved through preferences for a “hybrid” or “adaptive” family model. We also identified the determinants of family model preferences for both men and women. The results show that gender plays a significant role in explaining preferences (women are less likely than men to prefer the male-breadwinner family model) and that socio-structural factors such as age, education level, immigrant condition, religious status and social class influence the preferences of men and women differently. Ultimately, these results contrast with Hakim’s Preference Theory, which emphasises individuals’ choices over socio-structural factors as determinants of family models, and align with Crompton’s and Pfau-Effinger’s theories.

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Parental Leave in Spain: Use, Motivations and Implications

Abstract: In Spain as in other countries

Cited by 15 publications

References 22 publications

Ideological Discourses of Fathers on Paternity Leave in Spain

Ideological Discourses of Fathers on Paternity Leave in Spain

Gender differences in inter-role conflict in Spain

A Socio-Structural Perspective on Family Model Preferences, Gender Roles and Work–Family Attitudes in Spain

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