Sharing the Caring: Attitude–Behavior Discrepancies and Partnership Dynamics

Abstract

Even though ideals in favor of gender equality in the private sphere are wide spread, discrepancies between ideals and actual behavior are common. Such discrepancies and potential dissatisfaction with gender unequal behavior within a couple are expected to influence partnership dynamics negatively. This study examines how discrepancies between the perceived ideal sharing of parental leave and the actual division of leave, as well as satisfaction with the division are associated with (a) relationship satisfaction, (b) continued childbearing, and (c) union dissolution, using Swedish panel data. The findings cannot confirm an effect of discrepancies on partnership dynamics. However, men who wish they had used a larger share of the parental leave have lower relationship satisfaction, lower continued childbearing, and higher probability of union dissolution. Women are seemingly not affected by their (dis)satisfaction with the division. The findings may reflect a changing father role related to the policy setting and norms in Sweden.

Children of the (gender) revolution: A theoretical and empirical synthesis of how gendered division of labour influences fertility

“…However, most associations (15) between the independent variables and child outcomes were positive. However, a positive association again seems dependent on country (Brodmann et al 2007;Cooke 2009), women's employment (Cooke 2009;Schober 2013;Nagase and Brinton 2017), parity-specific outcomes (Mencarini and Tanturri 2004;Nilsson 2010;Komatsu 2011;Goldscheider et al 2013;Schober 2013;Aassve et al 2015;Miettinen et al 2015), the importance of childcare rather than housework division (Cooke 2004;Mencarini and Tanturri 2004;Miettinen et al 2015;Dommermuth et al 2017), and gender-for men but not women (Kaufman 2000;Bernhardt and Goldscheider 2006;Brandén et al 2018) or vice versa (Goldscheider et al 2013;Aassve et al 2015), and year (Zhou and Kan 2019). The significance of ideal over actual division of labour in determining higher fertility outcomes is evident (Alonso 2004;Torr and Short 2004;Luppi 2016), although one Australian study finds the opposite (Craig and Siminski 2010).…”

What happens to the couple relationship when sharing parental leave? A prospective, longitudinal study

“…The small change may be reflective of the fact that most of the transition‐to‐parenthood relationship change may have already occurred from pre‐birth to post‐birth (Mitnick et al ., 2009). The finding is supported by previous Swedish research on fathers’ satisfaction with how much parental leave they used and with their relationship (Brandén et al ., 2016).…”

“…Factors that have been acknowledged as important for the parental leave allocation are economic considerations and work life factors, although gender has been found to be the most influential determinant of parental leave division (Almqvist et al ., 2011). Our finding that mothers did not differ in their perception of their couple relationship is consistent with previous Swedish research, which also did not find any significant association between mothers’ (dis)satisfaction with their division of parental leave and relationship satisfaction (Brandén et al ., 2016). Future studies are needed to replicate the study findings and explore the mechanism underlying the link found in fathers, but not in mothers, between parental leave division and change in perceived couple relationship quality.…”

“…In the Swedish context fathers’ parental responsibility is expected to include caregiving initiatives, and ideals of gender equality is strongly articulated in the contemporary mindset (Duvander, Haas & Thalberg, 2017). Fathers’ who report dissatisfaction with their share of parental leave, and who wish they had more time on parental leave have been found to experience lower relationship satisfaction and higher risk of union dissolution, than fathers who are satisfied with the division of parental leave (Brandén, Duvander & Ohlsson‐Wijk, 2016). However, mothers might exhibit undermining behavior if they perceive that their traditional parenting role and authority as expert, is threatened by the father’s involvement (Schoppe‐Sullivan et al ., 2015).…”

Familial influences on the division of household labour in Malaysian families

“…Unequal division of household labour often affects women's labour force participation and earnings (Antonopoulos & Hirwar, 2010;Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2012). Likewise, women are more likely to experience higher levels of exhaustion, depression and stress due to unequal division of household labour (Bird, 1999;Branden, Duvander & Ohlsson-Wijk, 2016;Lively, Steelman & Powell, 2010;Zimmerman, 2000).…”