Women's evaluation of costs and benefits in public versus private spheres: The role of gender ideology

Abstract

Gender equality's progress in the public sphere has not expanded to the private sphere, where women are primarily responsible for housework, which seems to affect them at individual, family, and social levels. We investigated how women perceive contextual (society), intrapersonal (decision-making), or interpersonal (romantic relationship) factors could affect them (cost and benefits) at these levels; considering women's gender ideology as moderator. In Study 1, women (N = 94) rated the associated costs and benefits of a context (equal vs. unequal) and a decision (work vs. family). Findings showed that an equal context and the decision to invest in work benefited women at the individual level; investing in work benefited women at the social level but not at the family level. Moreover, women's gender ideology affected their evaluation. The Study 2 focused on the private sphere, women (N = 91) rated the associated costs and benefits of an egalitarian (vs. traditional) partner. Women perceived more benefits at all levels in an egalitarian (vs. traditional) partner. The effect a partner's ideology had on women's perception was stronger than the women's ideology. These findings highlight thatalthough women progress in the public sphere-certain factors in the private sphere seem to affect them.