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Beier, Friederike (2025): Zeiten der Sorge. Ökofeministische Zeitpolitik und die Temporalitäten von more-than-human-care. In: Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie, Jg. 50, H. 1. DOI:10.1007/s11614-025-00591-9

Abstract

"Zeitpolitische Maßnahmen wie die Arbeitszeitverkürzung von Lohnarbeit stehen aktuell im Zentrum gesellschaftlicher und wissenschaftlicher Debatten. Feministische Perspektiven betrachten die Verkürzung der Lohnarbeit als Chance, Sorgearbeit gerechter zu verteilen und Sorgeverantwortliche zu entlasten. Ökologische Ansätze knüpfen daran die Hoffnung, Emissionen und Ressourcenverbrauch durch die Reduktion des Produktionssektors zu verringern. Beide Perspektiven bleiben jedoch in einem lohnarbeitszentrierten und quantitativ orientierten Verständnis von Zeit verhaftet, das den multiplen Rhythmen des Lebens und der Sorge nicht gerecht wird. Dieser Beitrag entwickelt, ausgehend von queerfeministischen Zeittheorien und dem Konzept more-than-human-care , eine zeittheoretische Perspektive, die das Verständnis von (öko)feministischen Zeitpolitiken erweitert. Die Temporalitäten von more-than-human-care werden als multipel, spiralförmig und divergierend konzipiert. Der Artikel argumentiert, dass diese Temporalitäten zentrale Impulse für eine ökofeministische Transformation der Zeitpolitik liefern können, und entwickelt abschließend Prämissen für eine sorgezentrierte ökofeministische Zeitpolitik." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Deschacht, Nick, Sunčica Vujić & Oscar Frison (2025): The Greedy Jobs Phenomenon as a Driving Force Behind the Gender Pay Gap: A Systematic Review. In: De Economist, Jg. 173, H. 1, S. 177-204. DOI:10.1007/s10645-024-09444-4

Abstract

"Greedy jobs can be defined as jobs in which temporal flexibility for workers is costly to organize and in which there are rewards for long hours and constant availability to employers. Despite the mechanisms underlying this concept being familiar to labor economists studying the determinants of the gender wage gap, the label greedy work is not widely utilized in the literature on gender inequality. We therefore provide an identification and systematic review of articles that (implicitly) relate the gender wage gap to greedy jobs. Our findings underscore the importance of policy interventions aimed at promoting workplace flexibility, worker substitutability, provision of affordable childcare solutions, and cash transfers to parents, making jobs less greedy and therefore more compatible with tasks at home." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Elhinnawy, Hind, Morag Kennedy & Silvia Gomes (2025): From public to private: the gendered impact of COVID-19 pandemic on work-life balance and work-family balance. In: Community, work & family, Jg. 28, H. 2, S. 291-310. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2023.2265044

Abstract

"This article provides insights into the ways flexible, hybrid and work-from-home arrangements have impacted women during COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK. Based on 10 in-depth interviews with women living and working in the East Midlands, England, who turned to work from home during COVID lockdowns, this study found that despite heightened care needs and the additional burdens women faced during the pandemic, one silver lining was that flexible and hybrid work has positively impacted some. All women spoke about how the pandemic and associated restrictions have altered their conceptualisation of space both positively and negatively. Life during the pandemic gave participants extra care needs and added burdens, but it also gave them more space to be with family and to manage their lives more effectively. This sense of increased space for social and family bonding and life and time management was reduced (again) after the pandemic due to the difficulties women had to bear in balancing the demands of work and family obligations. This article contributes to the studies on the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on women's work-life-balance (WLB) and work-family-balance (WFB),demonstrating the need to think of innovative ways to support women's flexible work in the long term." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hess, Stephanie & Christian Schneickert (2025): Status Seeking and Work-Family Conflicts: How the Pursuit of Wealth and Success Threatens Family Peace in 26 Countries. In: Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Jg. 46, H. 1, S. 146-166. DOI:10.1007/s10834-024-09982-8

Abstract

"This paper takes a cross-national perspective and examines the association between the individual disposition to pursue wealth and success (status seeking) and work–family conflicts. We use data from the 2010 European Social Survey on more than 15,000 individuals from 26 countries who were of working age and living in families with children. The sample selection followed a stratified random sampling strategy and data were collected via computer-assisted personal interviews and pen and pencil interviews administered by trained interview personnel. Employing pooled and comparative single-country regression analyses as well as correlational analyses at the macro-level of countries, our results show that status seeking is related to higher levels of work–family conflict but that the strength of association is vastly different across countries. This individual-level effect is mainly driven by job characteristics and less so by socio-demographics in most of the countries studied. At the country level, better conditions for work and family reconciliation provided by welfare states dampen the effect of ambitiousness on work–family conflict, but only marginally. Interestingly, national wealth (GDP) strengthens the association, while differences in income inequality (Gini coefficient) among countries are not relevant in this regard. Our results highlight the need for a cross-national perspective when determining the antecedents of work–family conflicts." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Honda, Ayumi, Mayo Ono, Takahiro Nishida & Sumihisa Honda (2025): The balancing and conflict between work and family life of sandwiched caregivers: A scoping review. In: Safety and Health at Work, Jg. 16, H. 2, S. 156-163. DOI:10.1016/j.shaw.2025.04.004

Abstract

"The aim of this scoping review was to advance our understanding of the balancing and conflict between work and family life experienced by sandwiched caregivers. Five online databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library) were systematically searched between 20 Apr 2024 to 11 July 2024 for articles written in English and published between 1999 and July 2024, focused on the impact factors on work–family life balance and/or conflict of sandwiched caregivers. These database searches identified 58 citations, which results in 46 unique articles following the removal of duplicates. Title and abstract screening were identified for full-text review, twenty of these were excluded at full-text review, and leaving 13 articles for inclusion. We identified and categorized into three key themes: (1) Conflicts between work and family life and (2) Impact of conflicts between work and family life on psychological well-being and (3) Coping for conflicts between work and family life. The literature reviews suggested that the balancing and conflict between work and family life were associated with work hours, flexibilities in work and workplace, and partner support in the sandwiched caregivers. Especially, flexible work arrangements and maintaining social connection were the stress coping strategies for balancing of work and family life. In an aging society, building a truly supportive and flexible workplace culture, along with increasing and utilizing formal care services for child-rearing and aged care, is more effective in promoting the well-being of sandwiched caregivers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institute, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.) ((en))

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Lütolf, Meret (2025): The Balancing Act of Working Mothers and Caring Fathers. Impact of Family Policy on Egalitarianism in Families in Western Democracies. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 220 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-658-47716-5

Abstract

"This Open-Access-book explores how egalitarian parental leave policies can support a more balanced division of paid work and caregiving. Introducing a novel analysis grid and a unique dataset, Meret Lütolf examines parental leave policies in five countries – United States, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and Sweden – revealing how fully paid, non-transferable leave can promote gender-neutral caregiving roles. Key findings highlight the connection between longer paternal leave and a more equal distribution of unpaid work, along with fathers’ willingness to reduce paid work hours in favor of caregiving. By combining multiple research methods, the study links policy intentions with real-life outcomes and identifies feasible reforms, including full wage replacement, that can enhance egalitarianism without raising policy costs. Offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates, this book demonstrates how parental leave policies can contribute to more equal family dynamics and address broader gender inequalities in society." (Publisher information, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Mogstad, Magne, Kjell G. Salvanes & Gaute Torsvik (2025): Income Equality in The Nordic Countries: Myths, Facts, and Lessons. (BFI Working Papers / University of Chicago, Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics 2025,25), Chicago, 58 S. DOI:10.2139/ssrn.5133608

Abstract

"Policymakers, public commentators, and researchers often cite the Nordic countries as examples of a social and economic model that successfully combines low income inequality with prosperity and growth. This article aims to critically assess this claim by integrating theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to illustrate how the Nordic model functions and why these countries experience low inequality. Our analysis suggests that income equality in the Nordics is primarily driven by a significant compression of hourly wages, reducing the returns to labor market skills and education. This appears to be achieved through a wage bargaining system characterized by strong coordination both within and across industries. This finding contrasts with other commonly cited explanations for Nordic income equality, such as redistribution through the tax-transfer system, public spending on goods that complement employment, and public policies aimed at equalizing skills and human capital distribution. We consider the potential lessons for other economies that seek to reduce income equality. We conclude by discussing several underexplored or unresolved questions and issues." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Schaber, Ronja, Tirza Patella, Josefine Simm & Susan Garthus-Niegel (2025): German Parents Attaining Intrapersonal Work-Family Balance While Implementing the 50/50-Split-Model with Their Partners. In: Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Jg. 46, H. 1, S. 259-276. DOI:10.1007/s10834-024-09989-1

Abstract

"Work-family balance (WFB) is attained if parents combine work and family roles aligned with their values. For an egalitarian parent aiming to implement a 50/50-split-model, this means sharing paid work, childcare, and housework equally with their partner (involvement balance), performing well in all roles (effective balance), while having positive emotions (emotional balance). This is difficult since work and family are competing for time and attention. Therefore, this article presents resources which can help parents attain WFB within a 50/50-split-model. Quantitative data of n = 1036 couples participating in the Dresden Study on Parenting, Work, and Mental Health (DREAM) were used to calculate the implementation rate of the 50/50-split-model at 14 months postpartum. Quantitative DREAM data were screened to purposively select n = 25 participants implementing a 50/50-split-model for the qualitative study DREAM TALK . Problem-centered interviews were conducted and analyzed via qualitative content analysis. Quantitative results showed a 50/50-split-model implementation rate of 3.8–17.5% among German parents. Qualitative results revealed 14 individual- and eight macro-level resources to facilitate WFB within a 50/50-split-model. Individual-level examples are acknowledging benefits of childcare assistance, segmentation from paid work and controversially, in other situations, integration of paid work and family. Macro-level examples are availability of childcare assistance, of solo paternal leave, paid work < 39 h/week, employee flexibility options, and family-friendly workplace cultures. To conclude, the full potential of individual-level resources applied by parents is attained when supported by macro-level resources provided by politics and employers. Parents, politics, and employers can facilitate WFB within the 50/50-split-model to foster gender equality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Schepan, Marie Lisanne, Malte Sandner, Gabriella Conti, Sören Kliem & Tilman Brand (2025): Maternal and Child Health Following 2 Home Visiting Interventions vs Control. Five-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial. In: JAMA pediatrics, Jg. 179, H. 4, S. 367-374., 2024-11-05. DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5929

Abstract

"Home-based interventions targeting socially disadvantaged families may help to improve maternal and child health. Only a few studies have investigated how different staffing models affect early home visiting program outcomes. To assess the effects of 2 staffing models of an early childhood intervention on mother and child outcomes. The baseline assessment of this randomized trial was conducted between November 2006 and December 2009 in 15 municipalities in Germany. The follow-up assessment at offspring age 7 years was carried out by interviewers masked to treatment conditions from April 2015 to December 2017. Data analysis was performed from March to August 2023. Pregnant women with no previous live birth, low-income, and at least 1 additional psychosocial risk factor were eligible. A total of 1157 women were referred to the study by gynecologists, psychosocial counseling services, or employment agencies; 755 were randomized to treatment conditions (2 intervention groups and 2 control groups); and 525 completed the follow-up. Based on the Nurse-Family Partnership program, women assigned to the intervention groups received visits by either a midwife (midwife-only model) or by a team consisting of a social worker and a midwife (tandem model) until child age 2 years. Women assigned to control groups had access to the standard health and social services. Average treatment effects (ATEs) on the following primary outcomes were assessed using adjusted regression models with inverse probability weighting: developmental disorders, child behavioral problems, adverse, neglectful and abusive parenting, maternal mental health, and life satisfaction. The mean (SD) age at follow-up was 29.6 (4.36) years for mothers and 7.55 (0.75) years for children; 272 (52.2%) of the children were female. Mothers in the tandem model reported fewer internalizing child behavioral problems compared to their control group (ATE, 2.98; 95% CI, −5.49 to −0.47; absolute reduction, 13.3 percentage points). Beneficial intervention effects were found in the midwife-only group on abusive parenting (ATE, −4.00; 95% CI, −6.82 to −1.18), parenting stress (ATE, −0.13; 95% CI, −0.20 to −0.06), and maternal mental health burden (ATE, −3.63; 95% CI, −6.03 to −1.22; absolute reduction, 6.6 percentage points in depressive symptoms), but not in the tandem group. Both staffing models produced positive intervention effects, with more effects seen in the midwife-only model. These insights can guide future early childhood intervention designs and may help improve health care for socially disadvantaged families." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © JAMA Network) ((en))

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Adams, Ayhan (2024): Coparenting and conflicts between work and family: Between-within analysis of German mothers and fathers. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 36, S. 262-282. DOI:10.20377/jfr-1013

Abstract

"Objective: The study examines the relationship between coparenting conflicts and work-to-family/family-to-work conflicts for employed mothers and fathers. Background: The presence of children exacerbates the compatibility of work and duties of the private life for working parents. Working along similar lines in terms of parenting seems to be necessary to cope with these challenges. Still, a few studies have focused on the relationship between coparenting and interrole conflicts. Method: The quantitative analysis draws on longitudinal data from waves 6 to 10 of the German Family Panel, comprising N=3,608 observations of 1,377 individuals. The study employs between-within regression models to examine the inter- and intraindividual associations of coparenting conflicts and work-to-family/family-to-work conflicts. Results: The results revealed a statistically significant association between the level of coparenting conflicts and both, work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts. Additionally, changes in coparenting conflicts are associated with changes in family-to-work conflicts. Interestingly, the interaction between the level of coparenting conflicts and gender shows that the associations with interrole conflicts are more pronounced for fathers than mothers. Conclusion: The study provides insights into the interrelatedness between the parental coparenting relationship and the compatibility of work and family. The results underscore the significant relationship between coparenting conflicts and interrole conflicts for mothers and fathers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Alsarve, Jenny (2024): Managing families, managing time. Parents’ work-family difficulties and work-family strategies over time. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-20. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2024.2425377

Abstract

"This article contributes expanded knowledge about parents’ difficulties in reconciling work and family and their work-family strategies by studying how these difficulties and strategies change over time, e.g. from the early childhood years to the school-age/preteen years. Drawing on qualitative, longitudinal interviews with Swedish parents of school-age children who were interviewed when their first child was about 1.5 years of age, and then later when that child was 11 years of age, the article addresses the following research questions: What are the main difficulties in the parents’ reconciliation ofpaid work and caring responsibilities, and how have these difficulties changed over time? What are the parents’ most important work-family strategies for reconciling paid work and caring responsibilities and how have these strategies changed over time? The article draws on theories of work-family conflict, gender and time, and the results indicate change and continuity concerning the work-family difficulties and work-family strategies. Time famine appears to be a central difficulty that is consistent throughout the years. The findings also indicate gendered aspects of some of the strategies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Calvo, Paula, Ilse Lindenlaub & Ana Reynoso (2024): Marriage Market and Labor Market Sorting. In: The Review of Economic Studies, Jg. 91, H. 6, S. 3316-3361. DOI:10.1093/restud/rdae010

Abstract

"We develop a new equilibrium model in which households’ labor supply choices form the link between sorting on the marriage market and sorting on the labor market. We first show that in theory, the nature of home production—whether partners’ hours are complements or substitutes—shapes equilibrium labor supply as well as marriage and labour market sorting. We then estimate our model using German data to empirically assess the nature of home production, and find that spouses’ home hours are complements. We investigate to what extent complementarity in home hours drives sorting and inequality. We find that home production complementarity strengthens positive marriage sorting and reduces the gender gap in hours and in labor sorting. This puts significant downward pressure on the gender wage gap and on within-household income inequality, but fuels between-household inequality. Our estimated model sheds new light on the sources of inequality in today’s Germany, and—by identifying important shifts in home production technology toward more complementarity—on the evolution of inequality over time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Carreri, Anna, Manuela Naldini & Alessia Tuselli (2024): Inequalities in Academic Work during COVID-19: The Intersection of Gender, Class, and Individuals’ Life-Course Stage. In: Social Sciences, Jg. 13, H. 3. DOI:10.3390/socsci13030162

Abstract

"Research studies on academic work and the COVID-19 crisis have clearly shown that the pandemic crisis contributed to exacerbating pre-existing gender gaps. Although the research has been extensive in this regard, it has focused more on the widening of the “motherhood penalty”, while other groups of academics are blurred. Even more underinvestigated and not yet fully explained are the intersections between further axes of diversity, often because the research conducted during the pandemic was based on a small volume of in-depth data. By drawing on interview data from a wider national research project, this article aims to contribute to this debate by adopting an intersectional approach. In investigating daily working life and work–life balance during the pandemic of a highly heterogeneous sample of 127 Italian academics, this article sheds light on how gender combines with other axes of asymmetry, particularly class (precarious versus stable and prestigious career positions) and age (individuals’ life-course stage), to produce specific conditions of interrelated (dis)advantage for some academics. The analysis reveals three household and family life course types that embody the interlocking of gender, class, and age within a specific social location with unequal, and possibly long-term, consequences for the quality of working life, well-being, and careers of academics, living alone or with parents, couples without children or with grown-up children, and couples with young children and other family members in need of care." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Cho, Hyojin, Susan J. Lambert, Emily Ellis & Julia R. Henly (2024): How Work Hour Variability Matters for Work-to-Family Conflict. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 38, H. 6, S. 1611-1635. DOI:10.1177/09500170231218191

Abstract

"Variable work hours are an understudied source of work-to-family conflict (WFC). We examine the relationships between the magnitude and direction of work hour variability and WFC and whether work hour control and schedule predictability moderate these relationships. We estimate a series of linear regressions using the 2016 US General Social Survey, examining women and men workers separately and together. Findings indicate that as the magnitude of work hour variability increases, so does WFC, controlling for the usual number of hours worked. Work hour control helps to protect workers, especially women, from WFC when work hour variability is high and hours surge. Although schedule predictability tempers the relationship between work hour variability and WFC, its potency diminishes as variability increases. Our study emphasizes the potential benefit to workers and families of government policies and employer practices that promote work hour stability, schedule predictability, and equity in employee work hour control." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Chung, Heejung (2024): National family policies and the association between flexible working arrangements and work-to-family conflict across Europe. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 36, S. 229-249. DOI:10.20377/jfr-1002

Abstract

"Objective: This paper explores how national family policies moderate the association between flexible working arrangements and work-to-family conflict across countries. Background: Although flexible working is provided to enhance work-family integration, studies show that it can in fact increase work-to-family conflict. However, certain policy contexts can help moderate this association by introducing contexts that enable workers to use of flexible working arrangements to better meet their family and other life demands. Method: The paper uses the European Working Conditions Survey of 2015 including data from workers with caring responsibilities from across 30 European countries. It uses a multilevel cross-level interaction model to examine how family policies, such as childcare and parental leave policies, can explain the cross-national variation in the association between flexible working arrangements, that is flexitime, working-time autonomy, and teleworking, and work-to-family conflict. Results: At the European average, flexible working was associated with higher levels of work-to-family conflict for workers, with working-time-autonomy being worse for men’s, and teleworking being worse for women ’s conflict levels. In countries with generous childcare policies, flexitime was associated with lower levels of work-to-family conflict, especially for women. However, in countries with long mother’s leave, working-time-autonomy was associated with even higher levels of work-to-family conflict for men. Conclusion: The results of this paper evidence how flexible working arrangements need to be introduced in a more holistic manner with possible reforms of wider range of family policies in order for flexible working to meet worker’s work-family integration demands." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Ciasullo, Ludovica & Martina Uccioli (2024): What Works for Working Couples? Work Arrangements, Maternal Labor Supply, and the Division of Home Production. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 16991), Bonn, 87 S.

Abstract

"We document how a change to work arrangements reduces the child penalty in labor supply for women, and that the consequent more equal distribution of household income does not translate into a more equal division of home production between mothers and fathers. The Australian 2009 Fair Work Act explicitly entitled parents of young children to request a (reasonable) change in work arrangements. Leveraging variation in the timing of the law, timing of childbirth, and the bite of the law across different occupations and industries, we establish three main results. First, the Fair Work Act was used by new mothers to reduce their weekly working hours without renouncing their permanent contract, hence maintaining a regular schedule. Second, with this work arrangement, working mothers’ child penalty declined from a 47 percent drop in hours worked to a 38 percent drop. Third, while this implies a significant shift towards equality in the female- and male-shares of household income, we do not observe any changes in the female (disproportionate) share of home production." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Conti, Gabriella, Sören Kliem & Malte Sandner (2024): Early Home Visiting Delivery Model and Maternal and Child Mental Health at Primary School Age. In: AEA papers and proceedings, Jg. 114, S. 401-406., 2024-01-24. DOI:10.1257/pandp.20241087

Abstract

"We study the impacts of a prenatal and infancy home visiting program targeting disadvantaged families on mental health outcomes, assessed through diagnostic interviews. The program significantly reduced the prevalence of mental health conditions for both mothers and children, measured at primary-school age, and broke the intergenerational association of these conditions. The impacts are predominantly associated with a particular delivery model, wherein a single home visitor interacts with the family, as opposed to a model involving two home visitors." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Filippi, Silvia, Mara Yerkes, Michèlle Bal, Bryn Hummel & John de Wit (2024): (Un)deserving of work-life balance? A cross country investigation of people's attitudes towards work-life balance arrangements for parents and childfree employees. In: Community, work & family, Jg. 27, H. 1, S. 116-134. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2022.2099247

Abstract

"Work-life balance (WLB) represents a fundamental part of people’s well-being and is a key policy priority at national and organizational levels in many industrialized countries. Yet a significant gap exists in our understanding of employees’ ability to use WLB arrangements, particularly employees without children. We address this gap by exploring the perceived deservingness of childfree employees to use WLB arrangements in Italy and the Netherlands. Using a 2 × 2 experimental design, we study the perceived deservingness of childfree people to use organisational work-life balance arrangements compared to parents, with a particular focus on gender and country differences. We further investigate the attribution of priority to make use of work-life balance arrangements across these same groups. While we find no significant differences in perceptions of deservingness, the results do show significant differences in who is considered to need priority in using WLB arrangements in the workplace. Respondents attribute greater priority to female employees with children than female employees without children. The attribution of priority for male employees does not differ between parents and childfree employees. This interaction effect was only found in the Italian sample. We discuss the implications of our results for our understanding of work-life balance policy supports." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Harris, Candice & Jarrod Haar (2024): Work and family interaction management: the case for zigzag working. In: The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 35, H. 18, S. 3001-3023. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2024.2390986

Abstract

"The present study seeks to advance understanding of the interaction of work and family roles. Typically, while the intersection of these domains is established as either being detrimental (i.e. work-family conflict) or beneficial (i.e. work-family enrichment), we argue there is a fundamental issue with timing. Specifically, we offer zigzag working as an approach to understanding how work and family interact. We suggest, rather than roles operating separately (e.g. work to family or family to work), the reality of work is where employees have work and family roles intersecting simultaneously. We believe this provides unique insights for those with dependent responsibilities, representing potentially both a unique challenge and benefit. Our study has two samples (n?=?318 employees and n?=?373 managers) and we find support for zigzag working at the day-level and while it is positively related to work-family conflict dimensions it is also positively related to happiness. Overall, our paper offers a new lens on work-family border negotiation, providing empirical evidence showing that zigzag working does occur and that it appears to have unique properties. Importantly, zigging and zagging around work and dependents during a typical day represents both positive and negative effects, highlighting a unique occurrence within the literature." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Haupt, Andreas & Dafna Gelbgiser (2024): The gendered division of cognitive household labor, mental load, and family–work conflict in European countries. In: European Societies, Jg. 26, H. 3, S. 828-854. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2023.2271963

Abstract

"The unequal division of cognitive labor within households, and its potential association with mental load and stress, has gained substantial interest in recent public and scholarly discussions. We aim to deepen this debate theoretically and empirically. First, going beyond the question of whether the division of cognitive labor is gendered, we connect cognitive household labor with existing stress theories and ask whether men and women typically perform cognitive labor tasks that involve different levels of stress. We then discuss whether women perform these stressful tasks more often, making them more prone to higher levels of Family–work conflict. Second, we test the association between the division of cognitive labor and Family–work conflict empirically using large-scale survey data from 10 European countries within the Generations & Gender Programme (GGP). Results based on logistic regressions confirm that a high share of cognitive labor increases women's Family–work conflict, but not men's. We discuss future directions in the conceptualization and measurement of cognitive labor in the household and its implications for mental load. Through its contributions, this paper lays the foundations for a comprehensive understanding of the implications of an unequal division of cognitive labor in the household for gender inequality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hermann, Michaela & Luisa Kunze (2024): Gleichstellung am Arbeitsmarkt? Aktuelle Herausforderungen und Potenziale von Frauenerwerbstätigkeit in Deutschland. (Factsheet / Bertelsmann Stiftung), Gütersloh, 14 S. DOI:10.11586/2023085

Abstract

"Die Erwerbstätigenquote von Frauen in Deutschland ist mit knapp 78 Prozent im europäischen Vergleich eine der höchsten. Da jedoch fast die Hälfte aller 20- bis 64-jährigen Frauen (48 Prozent) in Teilzeit arbeitet, ist ihre tatsächliche Erwerbsstundenzahl vergleichsweise gering. Dabei sind Frauen häufig hochqualifiziert und würden auch gerne mehr arbeiten – wenn die Rahmenbedingungen dafür besser wären. Angesichts dieses ungenutzten Potenzials ist es sowohl aus gleichstellungspolitischer als auch wirtschaftlicher Perspektive von höchster Relevanz, die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen zu erhöhen. Gerade in Zeiten eines beschleunigten Strukturwandels sowie zunehmenden Fachkräftemangels braucht es differenzierte Maßnahmen, um die Frauenerwerbstätigkeit zu stärken. Eine höhere Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen kann nicht nur helfen, Diskriminierung am Arbeitsmarkt zu mindern, sondern trägt auch zur Fachkräftesicherung und zu wirtschaftlichem Wohlstand bei. Gleichzeitig können sich Frauen beruflich freier und umfassender entwickeln, sind finanziell unabhängiger und beugen mit einem existenzsichernden Erwerbseinkommen der Armut im Alter vor." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Hildenbrand, Kristin, Pascale Daher, Anna Topakas & Xiaoyu Gan (2024): Multidimensional work-nonwork balance: are balanced employees productive at work and satisfied with life? In: The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 35, H. 6, S. 1048-1087. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2023.2258335

Abstract

"Given ever increasing work and nonwork demands, achieving work-nonwork (WNW) balance is an important priority for many employees. Scholars have only recently settled on a definition of WNW balance as multidimensional and, as such, our understanding of its antecedents and outcomes is limited. Drawing on Conservation of Resources theory, we explore how organizations can support employees to achieve WNW balance and whether ‘balanced’ employees are more productive at work and satisfied with life. In detail, we hypothesize that the positive effect of supervisor WNW support (FSS) on employees’ life satisfaction and job performance is mediated by multidimensional WNW balance. We find, across two studies with two waves each, that only the dimension of WNW balance effectiveness and not the dimension of WNW balance satisfaction mediated the relationships between FSS, life satisfaction (Study 1 and 2) and self-rated job performance (Study 1). The relationship between FSS and supervisor-rated job performance (Study 2) was not mediated by either WNW balance dimension. As such, organizations can facilitate WNW balance through FSS, while ‘balanced’ employees seem indeed happier with their life and consider themselves to be better performing at work. We discuss the unexpected finding regarding the superior role of WNW balance effectiveness over WNW balance satisfaction for our outcomes in relation to the conceptualization of WNW balance as multidimensional and delineate important theoretical and practical implications." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hünteler, Bettina, Andrea Cass & Martin Wetzel (2024): Flexible Work Policies and the Division of Housework and Childcare in German Cohabiting Couples. In: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, Jg. 76, H. 4, S. 897-932. DOI:10.1007/s11577-024-00984-w

Abstract

"Flexible Arbeitsarrangements erfahren zunehmend Verbreitung und scheinen insbesondere für Paare eine bessere Vereinbarkeit von bezahlter Arbeit und Hausarbeit sowie Kinderbetreuung zu ermöglichen. Während unbezahlte Haus- und Sorgearbeit derzeit überwiegend als weiblich konnotiert gilt, könnte eine Zunahme flexibler Arbeitsarrangements zu einer geschlechtergerechteren Verteilung unbezahlter Arbeit beitragen. Empirische Belege für diese Annahme sind jedoch uneinheitlich und der Einfluss von Gender wurde noch nicht ausreichend geprüft. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden Hypothesen basierend auf ökonomischen, gender- und zeitverfügbarkeitstheoretischen Ansätzen abgeleitet, die mithilfe einer Stichprobe von n = 3244 Individuen in heterosexuellen Partnerschaften basierend auf der pairfam-Erhebung von 2018/19 und Regressionsanalysen getestet wurden. Der Zusammenhang zwischen der Aufteilung unbezahlter Arbeit und Arbeitsflexibilität wurde in Bezug auf Homeoffice, zeitliche Flexibilität und Arbeitszeitautonomie separat betrachtet. Entgegen den Hypothesen zeigte keine der Maßnahmen einen positiven Zusammenhang mit dem Anteil an Hausarbeit. Vielmehr wurde jede signifikante Assoziation vollständig durch Gender erklärt: Frauen übernahmen einen größeren Anteil an Hausarbeit, unabhängig von ihrer Arbeitsflexibilität. Lediglich der Anteil der Kinderbetreuung unterschied sich mit der Nutzung zeitlicher Flexibilität, allerdings geschlechtsspezifisch: Während Mütter mit mehr zeitlicher Flexibilität mehr Kinderbetreuung übernahmen, übernahmen Väter mit mehr Flexibilität weniger Kinderbetreuung. Flexible Arbeitsarrangements scheinen nicht per se zu einer geschlechtergerechteren Aufteilung unbezahlter Arbeit beizutragen; vielmehr könnten sich die Motive zur Nutzung von Arbeitsflexibilität nach Gender unterscheiden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Inoue, Chihiro, Yusuke Ishihata & Shintaro Yamaguchi (2024): Working from home leads to more family-oriented men. In: Review of Economics of the Household, Jg. 22, H. 2, S. 783-829. DOI:10.1007/s11150-023-09682-6

Abstract

"We examine how working from home (WFH) affects men’s participation in childcare and housework and their attitudes toward family. Because WFH is an endogenous decision, we apply a first-difference instrumental variable estimator, taking the degree to which one can work from home, measured at the individual level, as the instrument. We find that WFH increases the time that men spend on household chores and with family, and the fraction of men who consider life more important than work. Although WFH decreases their commuting time, we find no evidence that it reduces working hours or self-perceived productivity." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Mikats, Jana (2024): Über die (Nicht‑) Akzeptanz in Anwesenheit des Kindes zu arbeiten. Wie Eltern das Kind und ihre elterlichen Verantwortlichkeiten konstruieren. In: Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie, Jg. 49, H. 3, S. 439-459. DOI:10.1007/s11614-024-00574-2

Abstract

"The work-family literature suggests a contradictory relationship between working parenthood and (good) childhood, with disruptive or neglected children on the one side and absent or overburdened parents on the other. While the child occupies a complicated space in this relation, their position is rarely examined. Against this background, I explore the position of the child by turning to children’s copresence during parents’ performance of home-based paid work and ask how parents construct the child and their corresponding parental responsibilities. Following a practice-theoretical framework, I approach parents’ accounts as practices of representation in which the boundaries of what was perceived as (not) acceptable ways of doing family and work were sketched out. For this purpose, I analyzed 25 qualitative interviews with and about home-based working parents in the Austrian creative industries with positional maps. The parents had between one and three children in kindergarten or primary school. Parents’ constructions of the child were complex and ambiguous, as were the corresponding parental responsibilities. Meeting the child’s needs and not harming the child emerged as a common ground, yet the parents’ commitment to paid work was not questioned. Conversely, home-based work was seen as a way to meet both work and care demands. These findings suggest that home-based work may bridge ideas of good childhood and working parenthood. The paper contributes to an understanding of work and family that goes beyond simple dualism and offers new insights into parental home-based work, which remains relevant in the post-pandemic era." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Monroe, Julie, Steve Vincent & Ana Lopes (2024): 'It's One Rule for Them and One for Us': Occupational Classification, Gender and Worktime Domestic Labour. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 38, H. 5, S. 1175-1196. DOI:10.1177/09500170241235864

Abstract

"In this article, we focus on gender and class to investigate worktime domestic labor. Methodologically, we extend a novel, comparative critical realist method in which occupation-based and gendered positions in productive and reproductive labor are foregrounded. By building theoretical connections between labor process conditions and collective rule-following practices, we illustrate how inequalities are inscribed organisationally. Our analysis provides a more critical contextualisation of technological affordances to develop the literature on how technology is implicated in the reproduction of social inequality. Moreover, our analysis identifies multi-level causal processes, which combine to explain the presence and actualisation of worktime domestic labour or its absence, which is due, principally, to fear of sanction. For realist researchers interested in diversity-based challenges, absences are important because they can point towards specific discriminatory mechanisms. Our investigation thus revealed a surprising level of class-related in-work inequality within the gendered dynamics of domestic work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Ruf, Kevin, Ann-Christin Bächmann, Anja Abendroth-Sohl & Alexandra Mellies (2024): Tarifliches Wahlrecht: Warum die Mehrheit der Beschäftigten lieber mehr Zeit hätte als mehr Geld. In: IAB-Forum H. 21.07.2024. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20240722.01

Abstract

"Einige Tarifverträge sehen mittlerweile für bestimmte Beschäftigtengruppen eine Wahlmöglichkeit zwischen „mehr Zeit“ oder „mehr Geld“ vor. Eine Befragung von über 3.000 Beschäftigten aus über 150 betroffenen Betrieben zeigt, dass die meisten Beschäftigten unter diesen Umständen bereit sind, zugunsten von mehr Freizeit auf Lohnerhöhungen oder Sonderzahlungen zu verzichten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Tobler, Lina, Bernhard Christoph, Lukas Fervers & Marita Jacob (2024): When the Burden Lifts: The Effect of School and Day Care Reopenings on Parents' Life Satisfaction. In: Journal of happiness studies, Jg. 26, 2024-09-15. DOI:10.1007/s10902-024-00819-7

Abstract

"The availability of childcare services eases parents’ daily lives and research has shown that it positively affects well-being, especially for mothers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted established childcare arrangements, with school and day care closures adding to parental burdens. Despite extensive discourse on the influence of these closures on parental well-being, few studies have empirically analysed the effects of the increase in childcare responsibilities associated with the closures on the well-being of parents. We seek to address this gap by examining the impact of school and day care reopenings on parental well-being. We expect that parents’ life satisfaction will increase when schools and day care facilities are reopened —and that this effect is particularly strong for mothers. Leveraging the variation in the time of reopenings across Germany’s federal states, we employ a difference-in-differences and a difference-in-difference-in-differences approach to assess changes in well-being. The research design accounts for state-level differences and potential confounding factors related to the pandemic. By using data from the German IAB-HOPP study, which offers timely measures of life satisfaction, we aim to quantify the effects of reopenings on parental well-being. Results show only a small and marginally positive effect of reopenings on average life satisfaction among parents. However, this is due to a strong and significant effect of reopenings on mothers’ life satisfaction and no significanteffect for fathers. Our findings contribute to research on the division of unpaid labour and childcare and support the notion that public childcare provision is crucial, particularly for mothers’ life satisfaction." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Vacchiano, Mattia, Guillaume Fernandez & Rita Schmutz (2024): What's going on with teleworking? A scoping review of its effects on well-being. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 19. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0305567

Abstract

"Studies of teleworking and well-being increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to provide an overview of this emerging body of knowledge. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a scoping review using Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science), Sociological Abstracts (PROQUEST), and SocINDEX with full text (EBSCOhost). Articles published in English up to December 2022 were included. The result was a total of 2695 potentially relevant studies. After a double-screening procedure, 132 studies were chosen for data extraction. A content analysis was carried out to provide a summary of the social mechanisms linking teleworking to indicators of well-being related to mental health and quality of life. A complex picture of variables emerges on the impact of teleworking through direct or indirect mechanisms and a number of interactions with worker’s characteristics. First, the features of the environment matter, as it affects well-being, for example, depending on a better digital infrastructure, access to daylight and sufficient space. Second, it is not only a question of “where” we telework, but also “how much”. The advantages of a hybrid mode seem to be emerging to avoid an excessive lack of in-person social interaction, while offering greater flexibility in organizing daily life and reducing commuting times. Third, beyond the modalities of teleworking per se , it is key to take into account how these interact with workers’ personalities, their choices and preferences, which are often dictated by the stage of life they are in, e.g., parenting and career stages. In sum, the literature suggests that a straight answer on the positive or negative effects of teleworking is neither useful nor necessary. Multiple answers are possible to unveil the specific working arrangements that makes workers’ lives better according to their different needs. It seems essential to continue research on teleworking away from the exceptional stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have greatly skewed the evidence on the detrimental effects of teleworking. Planning more complex research designs using longitudinal data and network analyses could improve understanding of how teleworking is changing careers, lifestyles and social relationships." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Wielgoszewska, Bożena, Alex Bryson, Heather Joshi & David Wilkinson (2024): Do Women Pay for Working from Home? Exploring Gender Gaps in Pay and Wellbeing by Work Location in the UK Cohort Studies. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 17405), Bonn, 21 S.

Abstract

"Working from home (wfh) has seen a rise in prevalence, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is widely believed that wfh enables employees to better combine paid work with domestic duties, potentially enhancing work-life balance, emerging evidence suggests that it may also hinder career advancement and adversely affect mental health, with notable impacts on women. We employ longitudinal data from three British Cohort Studies, collected one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, to investigate the characteristics of those who report working from home and the relationship with gender disparities in hourly wages, mental health, and well-being. Using longitudinal data also allows us to control for cohort members' labour market situation prior to the pandemic, thereby helping to isolate the pandemic's effects. Our findings indicate that individuals who work from home typically receive higher wages compared to those who work from employers' premises, but the gender wage gap is most pronounced among those who work from home. Furthermore, consistent with the flexibility paradox, our analysis reveals that women who work from home - particularly those who work hybrid - experience the most detrimental mental health outcomes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Žiedelis, Arūnas, Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė & Ieva Urbanavičiūtė (2024): The gendered effect of an overwork climate and high personal standards for work–home conflict during the pandemic. In: Economic and Industrial Democracy, Jg. 45, H. 2, S. 470-488. DOI:10.1177/0143831X231167497

Abstract

"Although working from home and various other forms of flexible work are often presented as measures to strengthen work–life balance, research depicts a less optimistic picture. Previous research has shown that the impact of telework on work–home conflict is controversial, depending on various factors that are also frequently gender-specific. In this study, the authors evaluate and compare the effects of external expectations (i.e., an organizational overwork climate) and internal expectations (i.e., high personal standards) on changes in work–home conflict between working men and women during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania. Both types of expectations were associated with difficulties reconciling work and private life. Due to their interactions with stereotypical gender roles, organizational expectations encouraging overtime work had a more pronounced effect on male employees. Results suggest that an overwork climate within organizations is a problem not only for employees’ well-being but also poses a risk to gender equality in work and private life." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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(2024): 2024 Report on gender equality in the EU. (Commission staff working document / European Commission SWD(2024) 54 final), Brüssel, 75 S.

Abstract

"(...) the 2024 report on gender equality in the EU takes stock of the main initiatives from March 2023 until February 2024 to advance gender equality in the Strategy ’s key areas , namely: - Being free from violence and stereotypes; - Thriving in a gender-equal economy; - Leading equally throughout society; - Gender mainstreaming and funding; and - Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment across the world. The report focuses on the keyactions and achievements of EU institutions in this area. It also provides encouraging examples of legislative and policy developments by Member States (indicated in the boxes), and work by EU-funded projects in the above areas." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Adams, Ayhan (2023): Coparenting and conflicts between work and family – between-within analysis of German mothers and fathers. (SocArXiv papers), 23 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/fgx7y

Abstract

"The presence of children exacerbates the compatibility of work and family. Working along similar lines in terms of parenting seems to be necessary to cope with these challenges, but only a few studies have focused on the relationship between coparenting and interrole conflicts. This study seeks to close this gap by investigating the interrelatedness between coparenting conflicts and work-to-family/family-to-work conflicts with a particular focus on gender differences. The quantitative analysis draws on longitudinal data from waves 6 to 10 of the German Family Panel (N = 858). Between-within regression models were conducted to investigate both inter- and intraindividual association of coparenting conflicts and work-to-family/family-to-work conflicts. The results revealed that the level of coparenting conflicts is significantly associated with the level of both work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts. Furthermore, changes in coparenting conflicts are associated with changes in family-to-work conflicts. Unexpectedly, the interaction between the level of coparenting conflicts and gender shows that the associations with interrole conflicts are stronger for fathers than for mothers. Thus, the study provides insights into the interrelatedness between the parental coparenting relationship and the compatibility of work, gender-specific associations, and differences between interindividual and intraindividual associations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bratti, Massimiliano (2023): Fertility postponement and labor market outcomes. Postponed childbearing improves women's labor market outcomes but may reduce overall fertility. (IZA world of labor 117), Bonn, 11 S. DOI:10.15185/izawol.117.v2

Abstract

"Die zeitliche Verlagerung der Mutterschaft kann sich für Frauen ökonomisch positiv auswirken, indem sie vor der Geburt ihr Humankapital vergrößern, ihre Erwerbsbeteiligung intensivieren und ihr Einkommen steigern können. Umgekehrt kann dies die Realisierung von (weiteren) Kinderwünschen verhindern. Empirisch lässt sich zeigen, dass eine Verschiebung der Mutterschaft Arbeitsmarktnähe und Lohnniveau deutlich erhöht, zugleich aber weniger Kinder zu haben wahrscheinlicher macht. Hier sollte die Familienpolitik ansetzen: durch öffentliche Kinderbetreuungsangebote, finanzielle Anreize für Firmen, die betriebliche Angebote schaffen, sowie durch Elternzeitprogramme, die die Kinderbetreuungsaufgaben gerechter auf Väter und Mütter verteilen. Facebook Twitter" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Chanfreau, Jenny (2023): The Persistence in Gendering: Work-Family Policy in Britain since Beveridge. In: Journal of Social Policy, Jg. 52, S. 981-998. DOI:10.1017/S0047279422000125

Abstract

"Understanding the historical policy pathways that have led to the constellation of policies that both reflect and shape the current gender order can reveal reasons for the persistence of gender inequality in paid work and unpaid family care. Bringing together existing research and policy critique with Carol Bacchi’s framework of policy as ‘gendering practices’, this paper focuses on the role of policy as a process that constructs and upholds an unequal gender order. The discussion traces how UK social policies have since the establishment of the post-war welfare state articulated and positioned gendered possibilities for combining paid work and childrearing, shaping gendered and classed work-family life courses. The analysis illustrates that British social policy has not been consistently committed to a more equal gender regime but instead maintained a heteronormative family ideal and thus, despite various policy changes, the gendering of ‘the worker’ and ‘the parent’ as conceptualised in UK policy has persisted over the last several decades." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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De La Porte, Caroline, Zhen Im, Brigitte Pircher, Nuria Ramos Martin & Dorota Szelewa (2023): An examination of 'instrumental resources' in earmarked parental leave: The case of the work–life balance directive. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 33, H. 5, S. 525-539. DOI:10.1177/09589287231207557

Abstract

"This article examines factors that could contribute to explaining variation in take-up of leave among fathers in the light of the EU’s Work–Life Balance Directive (WLBD). The WLBD seeks to equalize care responsibilities between fathers and mothers, especially through reserved leave, with high compensation. The article begins with a cross-country overview of take-up of leave among eligible fathers, considering earmarking and the degree of compensation. Our results show variation, which cannot fully be explained by policy design (presence of high compensation with reserved leave for fathers). The article then theorizes that instrumental resources – information and accessible administrative application procedures – could be a missing link to understand the actual shift from de jure to de facto social rights. The article then carries out embedded case studies on these two aspects of instrumental resources, using original qualitative data collected during the implementation of the WLBD. The most striking finding is that countries with similar formal implementation of earmarked paid parental leave, display significant differences in commitment to instrumental resources. Put differently, the WLBD is being implemented differently, not regarding formal social rights, but on instrumental resources. This finding is important because it means that EU-initiated legislation on parental leave, could lead to differences in outcomes, that is, take-up of leave among fathers. The implication of our findings is that decision-makers and policy actors at EU level and in member states, should focus more on instrumental resources in the implementation process. This is particularly important for enhancing the de facto legitimacy of the EU in social policy, given that EU social regulation is increasing via the European Pillar of Social Rights." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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English, Claire & Gareth Brown (2023): My mum is on strike! Social reproduction and the (emotional) labor of 'mothering work' in neoliberal Britain. In: Gender, work & organization, Jg. 30, H. 6, S. 1941-1959. DOI:10.1111/gwao.13027

Abstract

"This article will explore the ways mothers and carers use the term ‘emotional labor’ to describe the exhaustion and burnout associated with socially reproductive tasks, rather than the performance of affective labor in the workplace. Scholars of social reproduction theory claim that emotion is key to understanding the specificities of gendered alienation, yet it remains under‐theorised. This article seeks to understand how the emotional lives of carers have been transformed by neoliberal processes that have intensified labor both within and beyond the home. Drawing on interviews with participants from the 2019 ‘My Mum is on Strike’ stay and play event, alongside ethnographic insights from online mothering blogs, sometimes referred to as the ‘mamasphere’ (Wilson et al., 2017), this article seeks to contextualizethe experiences of carers who narrate their reproductive labor as emotional ‘work’. Given the conditions of neoliberal rationality and the marketization of society, where every ‘field of activity… and entity (whether public or private, whether person, business, or state) is understood as a market and governed as a firm’ (Brown, 2015), emotional labor and the associated gendered expectations may begin to ‘feel like’ work, and we argue that this is felt in a specific way by those carrying out mothering labor, warranting further academic investigation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Fırat, Mustafa, Mark Visserm & Gerbert Kraaykamp (2023): Work-Family Trajectories Across Europe. Differences Between Social Groups and Welfare Regimes. (SocArXiv papers), 40 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/nghtq

Abstract

"Work and family trajectories develop and interact over the life course in complex ways. However, previous studies drew a fragmented picture of these trajectories and had limited scope. Here, we provide the most comprehensive study of work-family trajectories to date. Using retrospective data from wave 3 and 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, we reconstructed work-family trajectories from age 15 to 49 among almost 80,000 individuals born between 1908 and 1967 across 28 countries. We applied multichannel sequence and cluster analysis to identify work-family trajectories and multinomial logistic regression models to uncover their social composition. Our results revealed six common trajectories. The dominant trajectory represents the standard path of continuous full-time employment and having a partner with children. Women, the lower educated and persons from conservative welfare regimes are underrepresented in this trajectory, whereas men, higher educated people and those from social-democratic and Eastern European welfare regimes are overrepresented. Other trajectories denote a deviation from the standard path, integrating a non-standard form of work with standard family formation or vice versa. Women who have a partner and children generally work part-time or do not work at all. When in full-time employment, women are more likely to be divorced. Lower educated persons are less likely to be full-time workers with non-standard families, yet more likely to be non-employed with standard family formation. Younger cohorts are underrepresented in non-employment but overrepresented in part-time employment with a partner and children. Individuals from Southern European regimes are more likely to be non-working partnered parents and those from social-democratic regimes are more likely to be full-time employed separated parents. We also found pronounced gender differences in how educational level, birth cohort and welfare regime areassociated withwork-family trajectories. Our findings largely highlight the socially stratified nature of work-family trajectories in Europe. We conclude by discussing the potential implications for later-life inequalities,and make our code producing the trajectory data publicly available to facilitate future research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Kallenberg, Christine (2023): Erwerbstätigkeit von Frauen in Deutschland. Aktuelle arbeitsmedizinische Beobachtungen aus Praxis, Medien und Wissenschaft. In: Arbeitsmedizin, Sozialmedizin, Umweltmedizin, Jg. 58, H. 5, S. 298-305. DOI:10.17147/asu-1-273028

Abstract

"In der arbeitsmedizinischen Praxis fällt unter dem Aspekt der Lebensverlaufsperspektive von Frauen die enge Verwobenheit von Erwerbs- und Sorgearbeit auf. Rollenstereotype bei der Berufswahl, horizontale und vertikale Segregatin, Gender-Pay-Gap und Androzentrismus im Berufskrankheitenrecht zeigen zukünftige Erwartungen und Aufgaben für die Arbeitsmedizin mit dem Fokus Frauengesundheit und soziale Gerechtigkeit an." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Karjalainen, Mira (2023): Gender and the blurring boundaries of work in the era of telework—A longitudinal study. In: Sociology Compass, Jg. 17, H. 1, S. e13029. DOI:10.1111/soc4.13029

Abstract

"This longitudinal study analyses gender and the blurring boundaries of work during prolonged telework, utilising data gathered during the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused a major change in the knowledge work sector, which has characteristically been more prone to work leaking into other parts of life. The study examines the blurring boundaries of telework: between time and place, care and housework, and emotional, social, spiritual and aesthetic labour. The experiences of different genders regarding the blurring boundaries of work during long-term telework are scrutinised using a mixed methods approach, analysing two surveys (Autumn 2020: N = 87, and Autumn 2021: N = 94) conducted longitudinally in a consulting company operating in Finland. There were several gendered differences in the reported forms of labour, which contribute to the blurring boundaries of work. Some boundary blurring remained the same during the study, while some fluctuated. The study also showed how the gendered practices around the blurring boundaries of work transformed during prolonged telework. Blurring boundaries of work and attempts to establish boundaries became partially gendered, as gender and life situation were reflected in knowledge workers' experiences of teleworking." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Krause, Florian & Günther Vedder (Hrsg.) (2023): Arbeit und Gender. (Schriftenreihe zur interdisziplinären Arbeitswissenschaft 15), Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 189 S.

Abstract

"Das Zusammenspiel von Arbeit und Gender ist innerhalb der Arbeitswissenschaft seit vielen Jahren von besonderem Interesse. Permanent kommen an der Schnittstelle aktuelle Themen hinzu, die bisher noch wenig beforscht wurden. In diesem Sammelband geht es um Fragestellungen aus folgenden Bereichen: (1) Menstruationsbedingte Arbeitsunfähigkeit – eine Diskursanalyse; (2) Frauen im organisationalen Führungsfeld unter Covid 19; (3) Die Vereinbarkeit von Familie, Beruf und Ehrenamt; (4) Sind Frauen im vorzeitigen Ruhestand glücklicher?; (5) Gewichtsdiskriminierung im Privat- und Berufsleben. Alle Beiträge sind am Institut für interdisziplinäre Arbeitswissenschaft der Leibniz Universität Hannover entstanden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © Nomos)

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Mallat, Anja (2023): Bessere Vereinbarkeit im Homeoffice? Erfahrungen und Grenzgestaltungen von Eltern. (IAQ-Report 2023-08), Duisburg ; Essen, 20 S. DOI:10.17185/duepublico/79083

Abstract

"Homeoffice kann für Eltern zu mehr Flexibilität und Freiheit in ihrer Alltagsgestaltung, jedoch auch zu einer zunehmenden Entgrenzung der Lebensbereiche Beruf und Familie führen. Insbesondere erwerbsbezogene erweiterte Erreichbarkeiten werden in der Forschung als negative Konsequenz von Homeoffice bewertet. Der Beitrag zeigt auf, dass es aufseiten der Beschäftigten sehr verschiedene Sichtweisen auf das Arbeiten außerhalb regulärer Arbeitszeiten und folglich auch unterschiedliche Regulierungsbedarfe für eine gelingende Vereinbarkeit gibt. Deswegen gilt es, in der betrieblichen Praxis nicht einzig auf kollektive Regelungen zu erwerbsbezogenen Erreichbarkeiten zu fokussieren, sondern auch die Vereinbarkeitsideale der Beschäftigten zu berücksichtigen. Dies setzt zum einen voraus, Führungskräfte für Vereinbarkeitsfragen zu sensibilisieren. Zum anderen müssen die Beschäftigten familiäre und berufliche Leitbilder und Vereinbarkeitsideale reflektieren und befähigt werden, aktive Grenzsetzungsstrategien zu erlernen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Sorg, Heiko, Mahsa Bagheri, Jan Ehlers, Jörg Hauser, Daniel Johannes Tilkorn, Irini Helena Leifeld, PaulChristian Fuchs & Christian Günter Georg Sorg (2023): Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf in der Medizin: vom großen Wunsch und wenig Berücksichtigung. In: Das Gesundheitswesen, Jg. 85, H. 6, S. 505-513. DOI:10.1055/a-1813-8182

Abstract

"Familienleben und die Berufsausübung sind für junge Ärztinnen und Ärzte hohe Güter. Entsprechend ist eine gute Vereinbarkeit beider Lebensbereiche wichtig. Trotz seit Jahren gegebener politischer Rahmenbedingungen und gesetzlicher Ansprüche, scheint die Umsetzung gerade in der Medizin nicht einfach zu sein und mit großen Vorbehalten und Problemen der Beteiligten verbunden. Mittels einer Online-Befragung wurde der medizinische Mittelbau aus universitären und peripheren Krankenhäusern zu Themen rund um Familie, Kinder und berufsbiographischen sowie karriererelevanten Themen befragt und anschließend genderspezifisch analysiert. Die Studienteilnehmenden waren zu 65,1% verheiratet und hatten bereits Kinder bzw. äußerten einen Kinderwunsch (86,0%). Die meisten waren in Vollzeit (80,8%) beschäftigt. Der überwiegende Anteil der Teilzeitbeschäftigten war weiblich (87,4%). Bei 34,6% lag eine zeitliche Unterbrechung von 18,5±21,3 Monate in der Karriere vor, welche zu 87,8% aufgrund von Schwangerschaft oder Kindern genommen wurden. Ärztinnen nehmen im Allgemeinen deutlich mehr Elternzeit in Anspruch als Ärzte (6–12 Monate: Frauen 62,2%; Männer 22,4%; 12 Monate und mehr: Frauen 25,2%; Männer 6,6%). Die Familienplanung wird durch Vorgesetzte nur wenig unterstützt (21,2% viel bis sehr viel Unterstützung) und 45,6% geben an, Probleme mit deren Rückkehr in den Beruf bzw. dem beruflichen Weiterkommen erlebt zu haben. Bei knapp 60% der Teilnehmenden bestehen im eigenen Krankenhaus keine spezifischen Arbeitszeitmodelle für Mitarbeitende mit betreuungspflichtigen Kindern. Für die Umsetzung der Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf bei Ärztinnen und Ärzten sind in erster Linie Änderungen auf Seiten des Unternehmens notwendig. Zusätzlich müssen die jeweiligen Vorgesetzten umdenken, um eine Parallelisierung dieser beiden Lebensbereiche ihrer Mitarbeitenden zu ermöglichen. Jedoch müssen auch die jungen Ärztinnen und Ärzte ihre Sicht auf dieses Thema überdenken. Nur die reine Forderung zur Veränderung arbeitsrechtlicher Umstände bei Fortführung traditioneller Familienkonstellationen zu Hause, scheint diesem Thema in der heutigen Zeit nicht mehr gerecht zu werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Stoller, Sarah E. (2023): Inventing the Working Parent. Work, Gender and Feminism in Neoliberal Britain. Cambridge: MIT Press, 285 S. DOI:10.7551/mitpress/14918.001.0001

Abstract

"The first historical examination of working parenthood in the late twentieth century - and how the concepts of “family-friendly” work culture and “work–life balance” came to be. Since the 1980s, families across the developed West have lived through a revolution on a scale unprecedented since industrialization. With more mothers than ever before in paid work and the rise of the middle-class, dual-income household, we have entered a new era in the history of everyday life: the era of the working parent. In Inventing the Working Parent, Sarah E. Stoller charts the politics that shaped the creation of the phenomenon of working parenthood in Britain as it arose out of a new culture of work. Stoller begins with the first sustained efforts by feminists to mobilize politically on behalf of working parents in the late 1970s and concludes in the context of an emerging national political agenda for working families with the rise of New Labour in the 1990s. She explores how and why the notion of working parenthood emerged as a powerful new political claim and identity category and addresses how feminists used the concept of working parenthood to advocate for new organizational policies and practices. Lastly, Stoller shows how neoliberal capitalism under Margaret Thatcher and subsequent New Labour governments made a family's ability to survive on one income nearly impossible - with significant consequences for individual experience, the gendered division of labor, and intimate life." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © MIT Press) ((en))

Zitatform

Abendroth, Anja-Kristin (2022): Transitions to parenthood, flexible working and time-based work-to-family conflicts: A gendered life course and organisational change perspective. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 34, H. 4, S. 1033-1055. DOI:10.20377/jfr-730

Abstract

"Objective: This study investigates how flexitime and flexiplace moderate the consequences of transitions to parenthood for time-based work-to-family conflicts for women and men, and whether the normalisation of their use in organisations additionally contributes to reducing work-to-family conflicts. Background: Although flexible working has been described as a resource for better aligning demands in the domains of work and family, the findings of previous - mainly cross-sectional – research on its consequences for work–family conflict are inconsistent. Method: Individual fixed effects analyses were conducted using linked employer-employee panel data for 1,973 partnered men and 1575 partnered women in 132 large work organisations in Germany. Results: Time-based work-to-family conflicts after transition to parenthood increased for men but decreased for women. This can be explained by women reducing their working hours. However, work-to-family conflicts remained rather stable despite of the transition to parenthood among women who used flexitime. This can partly be explained by their weaker work-to-family conflicts already before the transition as well as to adjustments in work investments being less common among them. There is some evidence that the normalisation of flexitime and flexiplace in the organisation is associated with fewer work-to-family conflicts among women and men. Conclusion: Flexitime seems to be not an additional but an alternative resource to decrease the likelihood of more frequent time-based work-to-family conflicts after transition to parenthood among women. The normalization of flexible working depicts organizational change towards more family-friendliness." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Adams, Ayhan & Katrin Golsch (2022): Employed parents' reactions to work-family conflicts: Adaptive strategies of scaling back in Germany. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 34, H. 4, S. 1101-1125. DOI:10.20377/jfr-712

Abstract

"Objective: This study investigates the extent to which employed mothers and fathers scale back on working hours or job pressures in response to work-to-family conflicts (WFC). Background: Drawing on the concept of adaptive family strategies, it is assumed that WFC is an antecedent to a reduction in work demands. Considering partners’ gender ideology net of other resources and characteristics, we can expect to see gender differences in the adoption of this strategy. Relatively little research has been conducted on associations among WFC, gender ideology, gender, and work-related coping strategies. Method: We use six waves of the German Family Panel (pairfam, release 11.0), covering the survey years 2012-2019, to examine the effect of WFC and gender ideology on employed mothers’ and fathers’ work-related coping strategies (N=791 mothers and N=1292 fathers). OLS regression is used to estimate the effect of WFC at and gender ideology on changes in job pressure and working hours between and. Results: Parents who experience WFC are more likely to reduce their job pressure and less likely to scale back on working hours. Gender differences in the reaction between mothers and fathers on WFC only occur in connection with traditional gender ideology. Conclusion: Scaling back seems not to be a commonly used strategy to react to WFC." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bernhardt, Janine & Claudia Recksiedler (2022): Work-to-family conflict and parenting practices: Examining the role of working from home among lone and partnered working mothers. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 34, H. 4, S. 1072-1100. DOI:10.20377/jfr-709

Abstract

"Objective: This study investigates associations between work-to-family conflict and parenting practices among lone and partnered working mothers and the role of working from home as a potential resource gain or drain for acting empathetically and supportively towards their children. Background: Emerging evidence suggests that work-to-family conflict reduces responsive parenting practices, yet prior studies have rarely examined disparities by family structure. Although working from home has recently gained in importance in the workforce, there is still little research on its implications for the relationship between work-to-family conflict and the quality of parenting practices. If working from home is not used to do supplemental work during overtime hours, it may free up mothers’ time and emotional resources. In turn, this may either buffer the harmful impact of work-to-family conflict on parenting practices or indirectly enhance the quality of parenting practices by reducing work-to-family conflict. This could be particularly beneficial for lone mothers, who experience more role and time strain. Method: Analyses were based on 1,723 working mothers and their reports on 2,820 schoolchildren drawn from a German probability sample that was collected in 2019 (i.e., before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic). Using OLS regression models, we first examined whether work-to-family conflict was associated with four dimensions of verbal parenting practices (i.e., responsive and hostile communication, responsive decision-making, and school involvement at home). Second, we conducted moderation analyses to test differences by working from home (within contract hours and for supplemental work) and family structure with two-way and three-way interactions. Third, we performed mediation analyses to examine the indirect effect of working from home on each parenting dimension mediated by work-to-family conflict. Results: Higher levels of work-to-family conflict were associated with less responsive and more hostile parenting practices. The moderation analyses did not indicate a buffering effect of working from home. Instead, the mediation analyses showed that compared to mothers who worked from home within their contract hours, those who did not work from home or who did supplemental work from home tended to report less empathic parenting practices transmitted through higher levels of work-to-family conflict. Results showed no significant associations for mothers’ school involvement at home. Furthermore, no major differences emerged between lone and partnered mothers. Conclusion: Our pre-pandemic results challenge the buffering hypothesis and suggest that working from home can be either a resource gain or drain for the mother-child relationship regardless of family structure, but depending on mothers’ opportunity to work from home within the scope of contract hours." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Canaan, Serena (2022): Parental leave, household specialization and children's well-being. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 75. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102127

Abstract

"Many countries offer new parents long periods of paid leave. Proponents argue that parental leave programs can reduce gender gaps in the labor market and promote children's well-being. In this paper, I show that lengthy leaves can instead work against these intended goals. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find that a 3-year expansion of paid leave in France increases household specialization by inducing mothers to exit the labor force and fathers to raise their work hours. The leave further harms children's verbal development." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2022 Elsevier) ((en))

Zitatform

Danzer, Natalia, Martin Halla, Nicole Schneeweis & Martina Zweimüller (2022): Parental leave, (in)formal childcare and long-term child outcomes. In: The Journal of Human Resources, Jg. 57, H. 6, S. 1826-1884. DOI:10.3368/jhr.58.2.0619-10257R1

Abstract

"We evaluate the effect of an Austrian parental leave extension from the child’s first to its second birthday on long-term child outcomes. Exploiting a sharp birthday cutoff-based discontinuity in the eligibility for extended leave, we find that longer parental leave improves on average child health outcomes, but has no effect on the child’s labor market outcomes. When accounting for the counterfactual mode of care, we find significant gains in all outcomes for children for whom the reform most likely induced a replacement of informal childcare with maternal care. This highlights the importance of the counterfactual scenario in such evaluations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System) ((en))

Zitatform

Dean, Liz, Brendan Churchill & Leah Ruppanner (2022): The mental load: building a deeper theoretical understanding of how cognitive and emotional labor overload women and mothers. In: Community, work & family, Jg. 25, H. 1, S. 13-29. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2021.2002813

Abstract

"The mental load has received considerable public attention especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we synthesize existing literature to argue that the mental load is a combination of cognitive and emotional labor and it is this combination that makes the mental work a load. We argue that the way the mental load operates within families and society has three characteristics: (1) it is invisible in that it is enacted internally yet results in a range of unpaid, physical labor; (2) it is boundaryless in that can be brought to work and into leisure and sleep time; and (3) enduring in that it is never complete because it is tied to caring for loved ones which is constant. We also offer some future directions for addressing the problems associated with the mental load. First, questions measuring the mental load should be standard in health and social surveys to better understand the problem. Second, employers should adopt better policies that allow for greater work-life reconciliation to lessen the mental load. Third, caregiving should be vital infrastructure developed and invested in by governments to reduce competing work and care demands that accelerate the deleterious consequences of the mental load." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Goldacker, Kristina, Janna Wilhelm, Susanne Wirag, Pia Dahl, Tanja Riotte & Pia S. Schober (2022): Shared leave, happier parent couples? Parental leave and relationship satisfaction in Germany. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 32, H. 2, S. 197-211. DOI:10.1177/09589287211056187

Abstract

"This study investigates how parental leave policies and uptake may impact heterosexual couples’ relationship satisfaction. It focuses on Germany as an example of a country with a history of familialist policies and long maternal leaves that has recently undergone a significant policy shift. We extend the literature by examining the effects of maternal and paternal leave duration on both partners’ relationship satisfaction while distinguishing between the length of solo, joint and overall leave. The study applies two different methods on data from the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam). First, the study applies fixed-effects regression models (n = 1046 couples) to investigate the impact of parental leave duration on the change in mothers’ and fathers’ satisfaction over the child’s early years. Second, drawing on exogenous variation as a result of the parental leave reform of 2007, which shortened paid leave for mothers and incentivised fathers’ leave take-up, difference-in-difference analyses (n = 1403 couples) analyse reform effects on relationship satisfaction of parents with 3-year-old children. The fixed-effects models indicated a consistent negative impact of maternal – especially solo – leave duration on both mothers’ and fathers’ relationship satisfaction. No significant effects of paternal leave length were found. The difference-in-difference approach revealed a positive reform effect on mothers’ relationship satisfaction. In combination, these results suggest that the reduction in maternal leave as part of the reform has had a greater impact on couples’ relationship quality than the relatively short duration of leave taken by most fathers after the introduction of the individual leave entitlement." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Kan, Man-Yee, Muzhi Zhou, Kamila Kolpashnikova, Ekaterina Hertog, Shohei Yoda & Jiweon Jun (2022): Revisiting the Gender Revolution: Time on Paid Work, Domestic Work, and Total Work in East Asian and Western Societies 1985–2016. In: Gender & Society, Jg. 36, H. 3, S. 368-396. DOI:10.1177/08912432221079664

Abstract

"We analyze time use data of four East Asian societies and 12 Western countries between 1985 and 2016 to investigate the gender revolution in paid work, domestic work, and total work. The closing of gender gaps in paid work, domestic work, and total work time has stalled in the most recent decade in several countries. The magnitude of the gender gaps, cultural contexts, and welfare policies plays a key role in determining whether the gender revolution in the division of labor will stall or continue. Women undertake more total work than men across all societies: The gender gap ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours a day. Our findings suggest that cultural norms interact with institutional contexts to affect the patterns of gender convergence in time use, and gender equality might settle at differing levels of egalitarianism across countries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Korsgren, Pontus & Max van Lent (2022): Earmarked Paternity Leave and Well-Being. (IZA discussion paper 15022), Bonn, 24 S.

Abstract

"Earmarked paternity leave has been introduced in an attempt to increase fathers' involvement in child rearing and to achieve gender equality in the labor market and at home. So far well-being effects of such policies are unexplored. This paper takes a first step in that direction by studying the impact of earmarked paternity leave quota on life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and work-life balance using several policy changes in Europe over the period 1993-2007. We find that earmarked paternity leave increases life satisfaction by 0.18 on a 10 point scale which is equivalent to a 10.8 percentage point increase even decades later. Both fathers and mothers benefit, though the increase in life satisfaction for mothers is nearly 30% higher than that of fathers. Perhaps surprisingly, the impact on job satisfaction and work-life balance is close to zero. Hence even when the impact of paternity leave quota on the labor market are small, the increases in life satisfaction may still justify the existence of such policies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Langner, Laura (2022): Desperate Housewives and Happy Working Mothers: Are Parent-Couples with Equal Income More Satisfied throughout Parenthood? A Dyadic Longitudinal Study. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 36, H. 1, S. 80-100. DOI:10.1177/0950017020971548

Abstract

"Are parent-couples with equal income more satisfied as their children grow up, than those who prioritize the father’s career (specialize)? For the first time, 384 German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study couples were categorized into life-course coupled earnings types, by tracing how earnings were divided within couples between the ages of 1 to 15 of their youngest child. Multivariate, multilevel analysis showed that, unlike mothers pursuing an (eventually) equal earnings division, mothers in an (eventually) specialized arrangement experienced a strong decline in life satisfaction. Hence, particularly high-status mothers (having invested heavily into their career) were eventually up to two life satisfaction points less satisfied if they prioritized their partner’s earnings, than those who shared earnings equally with their partner. Paternal life satisfaction was not significantly different between patterns of earnings (in)equality. For most couples, earnings equality led to a win-win situation: mothers’ life satisfaction was higher than for specialized mothers without negatively affecting paternal satisfaction." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Latshaw, Beth A. & Deniz Yucel (2022): Work-family conflict and partners' agreement on fertility preferences among dual-earner couples: Does women's employment status matter? In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 34, H. 4, S. 1151-1174. DOI:10.20377/jfr-689

Abstract

"Objective: This study tests the effects of work-family conflict, in both directions, on partners' agreement on fertility preferences among dual-earner couples, as well as whether this relationship varies by women's employment status. Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between work-family conflict and fertility preferences. Given the high percentages of women working part-time in Germany, it is important to investigate the role working women’s employment status plays to further understand this relationship. Method: Using data from 716 dual-earner couples in Wave 10 of the German Family Panel (pairfam), we use dyadic data analysis to test whether work-family conflict impacts one’s own ("actor effects") and/or one’s partner’s ("partner effects") reports of agreement on fertility preferences. We also run multi-group analyses to compare whether these effects vary in "full-time dual-earner" versus "modernized male breadwinner" couples. Results: There are significant actor effects for family-to-work conflict in both types of couples, and for work-to-family conflict in modernized male breadwinner couples only. Partner effects for family-to-work conflict exist only among modernized male breadwinner couples. While there are no gender differences in actor or partner effects, results suggest differences in the partner effect (for family-to-work conflict only) between these two couple types. Conclusion: These findings indicate that work-family conflict is associated with greater partner disagreement on fertility preferences and highlight the differential impact incompatible work and family responsibilities have on fertility decisions when women work full-time versus part-time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Lott, Yvonne, Dietmar Hobler, Svenja Pfahl & Eugen Unrau (2022): Stand der Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern in Deutschland. (WSI-Report 72), Düsseldorf, 49 S.

Abstract

"Wie ist der Stand der Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Deutschland? Und wie hat sich der Stand der Gleichstellung entwickelt? Anhand zentraler Indikatoren auf Basis des WSI GenderDatenPortals (www.wsi.de/ genderdatenportal) liefert der vorliegende Report eine knappe und zusammenfassende Übersicht über den aktuellen Stand der Geschlechtergleichstellung in Deutschland mit einem Fokus auf den Arbeitsmarkt. Die Analysen zeigen, dass sich positive Trends vor allem bei der Erwerbsbeteiligung und den Einkommen von Frauen fortgesetzt haben. Bei der Mitbestimmung und den Arbeitszeiten baut sich Geschlechterungleichheit zwar ab, aber nur sehr langsam und in sehr kleinen Schritten. Bei der Aufteilung der Kinderbetreuung und der vertikalen Segregation des Arbeitsmarktes stagniert die Geschlechterungleichheit jedoch auf hohem Niveau." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Reimann, Mareike & Martin Diewald (2022): Good mental health despite work-family conflict? The within-domain and cross-domain buffering potentials of family and work resources. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 34, H. 4, S. 1126-1150. DOI:10.20377/jfr-726

Abstract

"Objective: This article investigates whether within-domain and cross-domain buffering by family and work resources can help mitigate the negative mental health effects of work-to-family conflicts (WFC) and family-to-work conflicts (FWC). Background: Most literature on the work–life interface stresses the need to maintain employees’ health and well-being by preventing the emergence of work–family conflicts. Since such conflicts tend to be an unavoidable concomitant of role expansion, we aim to put forward the debate on the conditions that might prevent their negative health consequences instead. Method: Fixed-effects linear regression analyses were applied to a sample of 4,920 employees in a three-wave employer–employee panel study in Germany. Using interaction analyses, we tested within-domain and cross-domain buffering of family (social support and relative bargaining power within partnerships) and work (job resources, support from direct supervisors or co-workers, formal and informal organizational support) resources in the relationship between strain-based and time-based WFC and FWC and mental health (SF-12). Results: Family resources and work resources somewhat mitigated the health risks of WFC and FWC. Overall, within-domain resources were more effective than cross-domain ones. Conclusion: It is important to consider resources in both the family and the work domains to determine the most effective ways of preventing the negative mental health consequences of work–family conflicts." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Schulz, Florian & Mareike Reimann (2022): Parents' experiences of work-family conflict. Does is matter if coworkers have children? In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 34, H. 4, S. 1056-1071. DOI:10.20377/jfr-780

Abstract

"Objective: To examine how the perception of work-family conflict relates to the share of parents in women's and men's direct coworking environments. Background: The idea of relational demography posits that individuals' relative positions within their coworking environments have an impact on their wellbeing. Depending on women's and men's parenthood status and the corresponding (dis-)similarity compared to their colleagues, this idea was applied to the perception of work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts. Method: Time-based and strain-based work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts were analyzed by gender and parenthood with random effects panel regression models using longitudinal data from the LEEP-B3-survey, a large-scale linked employer-employee survey from Germany (2012/2013 and 2014/2015; 2,228 women and 2,656 men). The composition of the respondents’ working groups was included as a moderating variable. Results: Mothers and fathers of children aged 0-11 years reported higher work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts than parents of older children and childless women and men. For mothers of children aged 0-11 years, a higher share of parents in their working groups was associated with less time-based family-to-work conflict. For fathers of children aged 0-11 years, the same associations were found for overall work-to-family conflict, strain-based work-to-family conflict as well as for all dimensions of family-to-work conflict. Conclusion: Similarity between the team members regarding parenthood seemed to reduce mothers' and fathers' perceptions of work-family conflict beyond several other characteristics of the individuals and the workplaces." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Zoch, Gundula, Ann-Christin Bächmann & Basha Vicari (2022): Reduced well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic - The role of working conditions. In: Gender, work & organization, Jg. 29, H. 6, S. 1969-1990., 2021-11-03. DOI:10.1111/gwao.12777

Abstract

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had diverse impacts on the employment conditions and family responsibilities of men and women. Thus, women and men were exposed to very different roles and associated challenges, which may have affected their well-being very differently. Using data from the National Educational Panel Study and its supplementary COVID-19 web survey for Germany (May–June 2020), we investigate gender differences in the relationship between working conditions and within-changes in subjective well-being. We systematically consider the household context by distinguishing between adults with and without younger children in the household. The results from multivariate change-score regressions reveal a decline in all respondents' life satisfaction, particularly among women with and without younger children. However, the greater reduction in women's well-being cannot be linked to systematic differences in working conditions throughout the pandemic. Kitagawa–Oaxaca–Blinder counterfactual decompositions confirm this conclusion. Further analyses suggest that women's caregiving role, societal concerns, and greater loneliness partly explain the remaining gender differences in altered satisfaction. From a general perspective, our results suggest important gender differences in social life and psychological distress at the beginning of the pandemic, which are likely to become more pronounced as the crisis has unfolded." (Author's abstract, © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) ((en))

Abstract

"Unpaid care duties are key to gender gaps in the labor market. As illustrated in the report, across the Member States, care responsibilities are equally shared between women and men only in about one-third of families. The interplay between labour market and household conditions may create vicious cycles. The unequal division of unpaid care work between men and women reduces women’s access to and permanency in the labor market, and leads to a concentration of women in sectors and jobs allowing greater working time flexibility at the price of lower wages and career opportunities. Gender gaps in the labor market themselves reinforce the unequal division of unpaid care work in households. Work-life balance policies are therefore key for supporting women’s labor market participation and employment and achieving gender equality in the labour market. Although cultural and social norms on the gender division of unpaid work in the household are still relevant, the availability, affordability and quality of childcare and long-term care services, eligibility criteria, length and compensation level of parental, paternity and carers leaves, and flexible working arrangements all play an important role in promoting equal sharing of care tasks in the household enabling full and equal labor market participation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Aarntzen, Lianne, Tanja van der Lippe, Elianne van Steenbergen & Belle Derks (2021): How individual gender role beliefs, organizational gender norms, and national gender norms predict parents' work-Family guilt in Europe. In: Community, work & family, Jg. 24, H. 2, S. 120-142. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2020.1816901

Abstract

"The guilt that mothers feel about the time and energy that they invest in work instead of their family is often proposed to be an important reason for why mothers ‘opt-out’ the career track. We sought to understand if mothers indeed experience more work-family guilt than fathers and how this relates to both their own gender role beliefs and organizational gender norms across nine European countries. Analyses draw on the European Social Workforce Survey, with data from 2619 working parents nested in 110 organizations in 9 European countries. Results showed that when fathers and mothers work more than a full-time week (a) fathers with traditional gender role beliefs felt less guilty, and (b) especially mothers working in an organization with low support for the parent role of working fathers felt guilty. Explorative analyses showed no effect of national gender norms on gender differences in guilt. Our results are beneficial for organizations and policy makers by showing that guilt in working mothers can be reduced by developing egalitarian organizational norms, in which there is support for the parent role of mothers and fathers, potentially helping mothers to focus on their careers alongside their families." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Achdut, Netta & Haya Stier (2021): The Role of Monetary and Non-Monetary Job Quality Components in Determining Welfare Exit. In: Journal of Social Policy, Jg. 50, H. 1, S. 79-103. DOI:10.1017/S0047279419000977

Abstract

"Contemporary welfare policies in many Western countries limit means tested public assistance for the long-term unemployed and spur rapid movement into the labor market. Studies on welfare use determinants that traced these policy changes focused on individuals’ characteristics, economic condition, and various policy components. Little attention was paid to welfare recipients’ job quality or its role in determining welfare exit. The present study examined the contribution of various job quality aspects, beyond wages, to welfare exit among welfare recipients in Israel. We considered the use of workers’ own skills and occupation, existence of standard employment contract (versus temporary), irregular work schedule, and application of mandatory and non-mandatory non-wage compensation attributes. The data derive from a national panel survey of 2,800 single-mother recipients of welfare in 2003. The results indicate the importance of these job components for welfare exit, above and beyond wages. Implications for policy are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Balleer, Almut, Monika Merz & Tamás K. Papp (2021): Couples' Time-Use and Aggregate Labor Market Outcomes. (IZA discussion paper 14468), Bonn, 61 S.

Abstract

"We present a model of the time-allocation decision of spouses in order to study the role of heterogeneity in preferences and wages for couples' labor supply. Spouses differ in their tastes for market consumption and non-market goods and activities, and also in their offered or earned wages. They interact in their choices of market hours, homework, and leisure. We estimate the model for married or cohabiting couples in the 2001/02 wave of the German Time-Use Survey using Bayesian techniques. We generate gender-specific own- and cross-wage elasticities of market hours in the cross-section. Elasticities are significantly larger if the wage shock is asymmetric across partners, not symmetric. Aggregating preferences and wages by gender and comparing outcomes for a representative couple with those from heterogenous couples yields a discrepancy between alternative aggregate wage-elasticities. Its size varies with the type of wage shock and the distribution of spouses across the preference-wage space." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bidenko, Katharina & Sabine Bohnet-Joschko (2021): Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Pflege: Wie wirkt sich Erwerbstätigkeit auf die Gesundheit pflegender Angehörigeraus? In: Das Gesundheitswesen, Jg. 83, H. 2, S. 122-127. DOI:10.1055/a-1173-8918

Abstract

"Ziel: Die Studie untersucht, inwieweit die Gesundheitsauswirkungen der informellen Pflege durch den kontextuellen Faktor Erwerbstätigkeitbeeinflusst werden. Methodik: Die Analyse basiert auf repräsentativen Bevölkerungsdaten aus den Jahren 2015 und 2016(n=19 791). Als Untersuchungsgruppe „pflegende Angehörige“ definiert werden Personen, die mindestens eine Stunde pro Woche eine pflegebedürftige Person informell unterstützen, betreuen oder versorgen. Durch Anwendung von Propensity Score Matching wird eine strukturangepasste Vergleichsgruppeidentifiziert. Anhand eines multivariaten Regressionsmodells werden Zusammenhänge in der Gruppe der pflegenden Angehörigen und der strukturangepassten Vergleichsgruppe analysiert. Für eine grafische Darstellung werden Untergruppen zum zeitlichen Einsatz im Hinblick auf Angehörigenpflege und Erwerbstätigkeit gebildet. Ergebnisse: Die psychische Gesundheit pflegender Angehöriger verschlechtert sich mit zunehmendem Aufwand für die Betreuung(B=-0,44; p=0,02). Die negativen gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen der Angehörigenbetreuung werden durch die Erwerbstätigkeit verringert (B=0,58; p<0,01),allerdings nur bis zum einem bestimmten zeitlichen Arbeitseinsatz. Bei einemhöheren zeitlichen Aufwand für beide Tätigkeiten nimmt der moderierende Effekt ab (bis zu 32% der Standardabweichung). Schlussfolgerungen: Der signifikante moderierende Effekt der Erwerbstätigkeit ist in der Wirkung maßgeblich durch die Gesamtbelastung aus den beiden Tätigkeitsbereichen geprägt. Die Ergebnisse vermitteln einen Eindruck von der potentiell stärkenden und schützenden Wirkung von Erwerbstätigkeit auf die gesundheitlich negativen Auswirkungen der Angehörigenbetreuung." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Boneva, Teodora, Katja Maria Kaufmann & Christopher Rauh (2021): Maternal Labor Supply: Perceived Returns, Constraints, and Social Norms. (IZA discussion paper 14348), Bonn, 93 S.

Abstract

"We design a new survey to elicit quantifiable, interpersonally comparable beliefs about pecuniary and non-pecuniary benefits and costs to maternal labor supply decisions, to study how beliefs vary across and within different groups in the population and to analyze how those beliefs relate to choices. In terms of pecuniary returns, mothers' (and fathers') later-life earnings are perceived to increase the more hours the mother works while her child is young. Similarly, respondents perceive higher non-pecuniary returns to children's cognitive and non-cognitive skills the more hours a mother works and the more time her child spends in childcare. Family outcomes on the other hand, such as the quality of the mother-child relationship and child satisfaction, are perceived to be the highest when the mother works part-time, which is also the option most respondents believe their friends and family would like them to choose. There is a large heterogeneity in the perceived availability of full-time childcare and relaxing constraints could substantially increase maternal labor supply. Importantly, it is perceptions about the non-pecuniary returns to maternal labor supply as well as beliefs about the opinions of friends and family that are found to be strong predictors of maternal labor supply decisions, while beliefs about labor market returns are not." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bonin, Holger, Werner Eichhorst, Annabelle Krause-Pilatus & Ulf Rinne (2021): Auswirkungen der Corona-Krise auf das Familien- und Erwerbsleben. Kurzexpertise im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Arbeit und Soziales. (IZA research report 111 574), Bonn, 36 S.

Abstract

"Die mit der COVID-19-Pandemie verbundene schwere wirtschaftliche Rezession bringt bei Frauen und Männern unterschiedliche Beschäftigungs- und Einkommensrisiken mit sich und könnte sich damit auf die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter auswirken. So sind Frauen einerseits in einigen systemrelevanten Bereichen, wie etwa Pflege und Erziehung, besonders stark vertreten. Andererseits sind sie überdurchschnittlich oft in einigen von den kontaktbeschränkenden Maßnahmen besonders betroffenen Wirtschaftsbereichen, wie etwa im Gastgewerbe, tätig. In vielen Konstellationen musste zudem aufgrund der zumindest zeitweisen Schließung von Kitas und Schulen die Verteilung von Erwerbs- und Sorgearbeit zwischen Frauen und Männern neu ausgehandelt werden. Vor diesem Hintergrund beleuchtet diese Kurzexpertise die gleichstellungspolitisch relevanten Veränderungen in Deutschland, die sich im bisherigen Verlauf der COVID-19-Pandemie am Arbeitsmarkt abzeichnen, sowie die sozialpolitischen Maßnahmen zur Abfederung der entstandenen Problemlagen unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Gleichstellung. Davon ausgehend werden konkrete Handlungsansätze erörtert, mit denen potenziell nachhaltigen Rückschritten bei Gleichstellungszielen durch Pandemiefolgen an den Arbeitsmärkten und in den Familien entgegengearbeitet werden könnte, oder die vorbeugend für eine gleichmäßigere Verteilung wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Risiken in künftigen Krisensituationen sorgen könnten" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Briedis, Kolja, Gesche Brandt & Ulrike Schwabe (2021): Promovieren im Spannungsfeld zwischen wissenschaftlicher Qualifizierung und Elternschaft. Aktuelle Ergebnisse der National Academics Panel Study. (DZHW-Brief 2021,04), Hannover, 12 S. DOI:10.34878/2021.04.dzhw_brief

Abstract

"Von den in Nacaps befragten Promovierenden haben 17 Prozent Kinder. Dieser Anteil ist bei weiblichen und männlichen Promovierenden gleich hoch. Unter Promovierenden in strukturierten Promotionsprogrammen ist der Anteil geringer (11 Prozent). Knapp drei Viertel der kinderlosen Promovierenden wünschen sich Kinder zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt, etwa ein Fünftel ist in dieser Frage noch unentschlossen und eine kleine Gruppe spricht sich zum Befragungszeitpunkt dezidiert gegen eigene Kinder aus. Kinderlose Promovierende sehen die größten Schwierigkeiten bei der Familienplanung in der beruflichen Unsicherheit sowie in der als schwierig wahrgenommenen Vereinbarkeit von Berufs- und Privatleben. Promovierende mit Kind geben eine mittlere Zufriedenheit mit der Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf an. Auf einer Skala mit insgesamt elf Stufen liegt der mittlere Wert der Zufriedenheit bei einem Wert von 6,1. Promovierende Väter geben mit einem durchschnittlichen Skalenwert von 6,3 eine höhere Zufriedenheit an als promovierende Mütter (5,8). Die Zufriedenheit mit der Vereinbarkeit steht in einem positiven Zusammenhang mit der Stabilität der Promotionsbetreuung, der emotionalen Unterstützung in der Promotionsphase sowie der Unterstützung bei der allgemeinen Karriereplanung." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Fuchs, Michaela, Anne Otto & Birgit Fritzsche (2021): Systemrelevante Berufe und das Potenzial für Homeoffice: Eine geschlechtsspezifische Bestandsaufnahme für Thüringen. (IAB-Regional. Berichte und Analysen aus dem Regionalen Forschungsnetz. IAB Sachsen-Anhalt-Thüringen 01/2021), Nürnberg, 54 S.

Abstract

"Frauen sind von der Corona-Krise weitaus stärker betroffen, als dies in früheren Krisen der Fall war. Unter anderem sind sie stärker in den systemrelevanten Berufen vertreten, also denjenigen Berufen, die als unverzichtbar für das Funktionieren der Gesellschaft und die Aufrechterhaltung der kritischen Infrastruktur gelten. Gleichzeitig aber haben sie in einem größeren Maße als Männer die Möglichkeit, zumindest zeitweise von zu Hause zu arbeiten und damit den Vorgaben des Arbeitsschutzes und der sozialen Distanzierung nachzukommen. Vor diesem Hintergrund unterzieht die vorliegende Analyse die Arbeitsmarktsituation von Frauen und Männern in den systemrelevanten Berufen sowie deren Homeoffice-Potenziale in Thüringen einer umfassenden Bestandsaufnahme. In Thüringen arbeitet rund ein Drittel aller sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten – vorrangig Frauen - in den systemrelevanten Berufen. Die Studie zeichnet ein sehr differenziertes Bild dieser Berufe, in denen Frauen vielfach eine ungünstigere Arbeitsmarktsituation als Männer aufweisen. In einigen Berufen jedoch ist die Situation der Frauen ähnlich oder sogar besser als die der Männer. Frauen arbeiten in frauendominierten Berufen vorwiegend in Teilzeit, während Männer hauptsächlich eine Vollzeittätigkeit ausüben. Männer weisen zudem in vielen systemrelevanten Berufen eine stärkere Spezialisierung auf anspruchsvolle und komplexe Tätigkeitsniveaus auf. Dieser Befund steht in Zusammenhang damit, dass Männer in vielen systemrelevanten Berufen höher entlohnt werden als Frauen. Im Gegenzug sind Frauen in den meisten systemrelevanten Berufen seltener von Arbeitslosigkeit betroffen. In Thüringen kann theoretisch etwas mehr als die Hälfte der Beschäftigten zumindest zeitweise im Homeoffice arbeiten. Hierbei haben Frauen ein wesentlich höheres Homeoffice-Potenzial als Männer. Diese Diskrepanz beruht hauptsächlich auf der geschlechtsspezifischen Berufssegregation und hiermit verbundenen unterschiedlichen Tätigkeitsstrukturen. In den systemrelevanten Berufen gibt es nur ein geringes Homeoffice-Potenzial, da vielfach die physische Präsenz am Arbeitsplatz erforderlich ist. Demgegenüber bieten Arbeitsplätze mit komplexeren Arbeitsinhalten wie bei Spezialisten- und Experten einen besseren Zugang zu Homeoffice. Um die stärkere Betroffenheit von Frauen in kommenden Krisen, aber auch generell auf lange Sicht zu verringern, sollten die Rahmenbedingungen künftig verbessert werden. Ansatzpunkte hierfür bieten u. a. eine bessere finanzielle Entschädigung für Lohnausfälle der Eltern bei Kita- und Schulschließungen, bessere Voraussetzungen für die ausgewogenere Aufteilung von Erwerbs- und Sorgearbeit zwischen Partnern, ein weiterer Ausbau der Betreuungsinfrastruktur sowie eine höhere Entlohnung und Wertschätzung in systemrelevanten Berufen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Fuchs, Michaela, Anne Otto & Birgit Fritzsche (2021): Systemrelevante Berufe und das Potenzial für Homeoffice: Eine geschlechtsspezifische Bestandsaufnahme für Sachsen-Anhalt. (IAB-Regional. Berichte und Analysen aus dem Regionalen Forschungsnetz. IAB Sachsen-Anhalt-Thüringen 02/2021), Nürnberg, 53 S.

Abstract

"Frauen sind von der Corona-Krise weitaus stärker betroffen, als dies in früheren Krisen der Fall war. Unter anderem sind sie stärker in den systemrelevanten Berufen vertreten, also denjenigen Berufen, die als unverzichtbar für das Funktionieren der Gesellschaft und die Aufrechterhaltung der kritischen Infrastruktur gelten. Gleichzeitig aber haben sie in einem größeren Maße als Männer die Möglichkeit, zumindest zeitweise von zu Hause zu arbeiten und damit den Vorgaben des Arbeitsschutzes und der sozialen Distanzierung nachzukommen. Vor diesem Hintergrund unterzieht die vorliegende Analyse die Arbeitsmarktsituation von Frauen und Männern in den systemrelevanten Berufen sowie deren Homeoffice-Potenziale in Sachsen-Anhalt einer umfassenden Bestandsaufnahme. In Sachsen-Anhalt arbeitet rund ein Drittel aller sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten – vorrangig Frauen - in den systemrelevanten Berufen. Die Studie zeichnet ein sehr differenziertes Bild dieser Berufe, in denen Frauen vielfach eine ungünstigere Arbeitsmarktsituation als Männer aufweisen. In einigen Berufen jedoch ist die Situation der Frauen ähnlich oder sogar besser als die der Männer. Frauen arbeiten in den systemrelevanten frauendominierten Berufen vorwiegend in Teilzeit, während Männer hauptsächlich eine Vollzeittätigkeit ausüben. Männer weisen zudem in vielen systemrelevanten Berufen eine stärkere Spezialisierung auf anspruchsvolle und komplexe Tätigkeitsniveaus auf. Dieser Befund steht in Zusammenhang damit, dass Männer in vielen systemrelevanten Berufen höher entlohnt werden als Frauen. Im Gegenzug sind Frauen in den meisten dieser Berufe seltener von Arbeitslosigkeit betroffen. In Sachsen-Anhalt kann theoretisch etwas mehr als die Hälfte der Beschäftigten zumindest zeitweise im Homeoffice arbeiten. Hierbei haben Frauen ein wesentlich höheres Homeoffice-Potenzial als Männer. Diese Diskrepanz beruht hauptsächlich auf der geschlechtsspezifischen Berufssegregation und hiermit verbundenen unterschiedlichen Tätigkeitsstrukturen. In den systemrelevanten Berufen gibt es nur ein geringes Homeoffice-Potenzial, da vielfach die physische Präsenz am Arbeitsplatz erforderlich ist. Demgegenüber bieten Arbeitsplätze mit komplexeren Arbeitsinhalten wie bei Spezialisten und Experten einen besseren Zugang zu Homeoffice. Um die stärkere Betroffenheit von Frauen in kommenden Krisen, aber auch generell auf lange Sicht zu verringern, sollten die Rahmenbedingungen künftig verbessert werden. Ansatzpunkte hierfür bieten u. a. eine bessere finanzielle Entschädigung für Lohnausfälle der Eltern bei Kita- und Schulschließungen, bessere Voraussetzungen für die ausgewogenere Aufteilung von Erwerbs- und Sorgearbeit zwischen Partnern, ein weiterer Ausbau der Betreuungsinfrastruktur sowie eine höhere Entlohnung und Wertschätzung in systemrelevanten Berufen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Geis-Thöne, Wido & Axel Plünnecke (2021): Familienpolitik - Erwerbstätigkeit beider Elternteile stärken. (IW-Kurzberichte / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln 2021,45), Köln, 3 S.

Abstract

"Um Familien wirtschaftlich besser zu stellen und gegen Risiken abzusichern, ist die Erwerbstätigkeit beider Elternteile hilfreich. Daher sollte die Familienpolitik die U3-Betreuung und Ganztagsgrundschulen ausbauen, die Qualität der Betreuungsangebote erhöhen und Elterngeld und Ehegattenbesteuerung weiterentwickeln." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Giménez-Nadal, José Ignacio & José Alberto Molina (2021): How do women allocate their available time in Europe? Differences with men. (GLO discussion paper / Global Labor Organization 908), Maastricht, 42 S.

Abstract

"This article explores the gender gap in time allocation in Europe, offering up-to-date statistics and information on several factors that may help to explain these differences. Prior research has identified several factors affecting the time individuals devote to paid work, unpaid work, and child care, and the gender gaps in these activities, but most research refers to single countries, and general patterns are rarely explored. Cross-country evidence on gender gaps in paid work, unpaid work, and child care is offered, and explanations based on education, earnings, and household structure are presented, using data from the EUROSTAT and the Multinational Time Use Surveys. There are large cross-country differences in the gender gaps in paid work, unpaid work, and child care, which remain after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, although the gender gap in paid work dissipates when the differential gendered relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and paid work is taken into account. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of gender gaps in Europe, helping to focus recent debates on how to tackle inequality in Europe, and clarifying the factors that contribute to gender inequalities in the uses of time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Hank, Karsten & Anja Steinbach (2021): The virus changed everything, didn't it? Couples' division of housework and childcare before and during the Corona crisis. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 33, H. 1, S. 99-114. DOI:10.20377/jfr-488

Abstract

"Fragestellung: Wir untersuchen Veränderungen der Aufteilung von Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung in Paarbeziehungen vor und während der Corona-Krise. Hintergrund: Der vorliegende Beitrag trägt damit zur Diskussion über mögliche Auswirkungen der COVID-19 Pandemie auf Ungleichheiten zwischen den Geschlechtern bei. Methode: Die deskriptive Analyse basiert auf Vorabdaten des Beziehungs- und Familienpanels (pairfam; Welle 12) und dessen internetbasierter COVID-19 Zusatzstudie (n=3.108), die eine erste Betrachtung unmittelbarer Dynamiken der häuslichen und familiären Arbeitsteilung im Verlauf der Pandemie ermöglichen. Ergebnisse: Obwohl sich im Aggregat keine grundlegenden Veränderungen etablierter Muster geschlechtsspezifischer Arbeitsteilung zeigen, gibt es dennoch Hinweise auf gewisse Verschiebungen hin zu den Extremen (‚traditionell‘ und ‚Rollentausch‘) der Verteilung. Betrachtet man Veränderungen innerhalb von Paarbeziehungen, finden sich etwa gleich große Anteile an Paaren, in denen der relative Beitrag der Partnerin gestiegen bzw. gesunken ist. Insbesondere in zuvor eher egalitären Beziehungen haben Frauen stärker die überwiegende oder gesamte Verantwortung für die Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung übernommen. Wenn männliche Partner ihren Anteil gesteigert haben, geschah dies meist nur bis zum Schwellenwert einer gleichgewichtigen Arbeitsteilung (‚50/50‘). Veränderungen im zeitlichen Umfang der Erwerbstätigkeit führten zwar beim Mann zu Anpassungen seines relativen Beitrags zu Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung, aber nicht bei der Frau. Diskussion: Insgesamt weisen unsere Befunde eher auf heterogene Anpassungsprozesse in Partnerschaften als auf eine generelle Re-Traditionalisierung der Geschlechterbeziehungen während der Corona-Krise hin." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Hedel, Karen van, Heta Moustgaard, Mikko Myrskylä & Pekka Martikainen (2021): Work-family typologies and mental health among women in early working ages. (MPIDR working paper / Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research 2021-015), Rostock, 38 S. DOI:10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2021-015

Abstract

"Better mental health is observed among women with a partner, children, or employment as compared with women without a partner, children, or employment, respectively. Moreover, women who fulfill all three roles are generally healthier than those with fewer roles. Because of significant changes in work-family life constellations over age, understanding these health differentials requires a life course approach. We linked work-family trajectories to mental health in mid-life for Finnish women using longitudinal registry data. Panel data from an 11% random sample of the population residing in Finland in any year between 1987 and 2007 and followed up until 2013 were used. Work-family combinations were based on partnership status, motherhood status, and employment status. Purchases of prescribed psychotropic medication were used as a measure of mental health. We used sequence analysis to identify 7 distinct groups of women based on their work-family trajectories between ages 20 to 42 years. The associations of typologies of trajectories with mental health at age 43 years were estimated with logistic regression models. Compared to employed mothers with a partner, all other women were more likely to have purchased any psychotropic medication at age 43; especially women without a partner, children or employment and lone mothers had worse mental health. These disadvantages remained after controlling for psychotropic medication purchases earlier in life (to account for potential health selection). Adjusting for age at motherhood did not contribute to the better mental health of employed mothers with a partner. Women combining partnership, motherhood, and employment during early working ages had better mental health later in life than women with other work-family trajectories even after adjusting for mental health earlier in life. Interventions to improve the mental health of women living alone in mid-life, including lone mothers, and individuals without employment, may be need" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Hipp, Lena & Mareike Bünning (2021): Parenthood as a driver of increased gender inequality during COVID-19? Exploratory evidence from Germany. In: European Societies, Jg. 23, H. sup1, S. S658-S673. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2020.1833229

Abstract

"Drawing on three waves of survey data from a non-probability sample from Germany, this paper examines two opposing expectations about the pandemic’s impacts on gender equality: The optimistic view suggests that gender equality has increased, as essential workers in Germany have been predominantly female and as fathers have had more time for childcare. The pessimistic view posits that lockdowns have also negatively affected women’s jobs and that mothers had to shoulder the additional care responsibilities. Overall, our exploratory analyses provide more evidence supporting the latter view. Parents were more likely than non-parents to work fewer hours during the pandemic than before, and mothers were more likely than fathers to work fewer hours once lockdowns were lifted. Moreover, even though parents tended to divide childcare more evenly, at least temporarily, mothers still shouldered more childcare work than fathers. The division of housework remained largely unchanged. It is therefore unsurprising that women, in particular mothers, reported lower satisfaction during the observation period. Essential workers experienced fewer changes in their working lives than respondents in other occupations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Hövermann, Andreas (2021): Belastungswahrnehmung in der Corona-Pandemie. Erkenntnisse aus vier Wellen der HBS-Erwerbspersonenbefragung 2020/21. (WSI Policy Brief / Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut 50), Düsseldorf, 13 S.

Abstract

"Über ein Jahr ist es mittlerweile her, dass die ersten Corona-Fälle in Deutschland auftraten. Das Virus und die zur Eindämmung getroffenen Einschränkungen stellen die Bevölkerung vor große Herausforderungen. Ein Indikator dafür ist die Belastungswahrnehmung, die in diesem Policy Brief im Mittelpunkt steht." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Jahagirdar, Deepa, Michelle Dimitris, Erin Strumpf, Jay S. Kaufman, Sam Harper, Jody Heymann, Efe Atabay, Ilona Vincent & Arijit Nandi (2021): Balancing work and care: the effect of paid adult medical leave policies on employment in Europe. In: Journal of Social Policy, Jg. 50, H. 3, S. 552-568. DOI:10.1017/S0047279420000264

Abstract

"Increasing caregiving needs for family members has created pressure on prime-age workers. Combined with the ageing population, the demand for care related to illness and disability by relatives mean more of the workforce may have to consider caring needs (Bauer and Sousa-Poza, ). 'Informal caregivers' provide care generally without payment (Yoo et al., ). In contrast to formal care, informal caregivers usually have a close relationship with the recipient: for example, siblings and adult children. Informal caregiving is considered a desirable option to meet support needs from several perspectives; these caregivers may be preferred by recipients relative to formal arrangements especially during severe acute illnesses. Caregivers may also feel a personal sense of responsibility to look after loved ones rather than defer to strangers (Fine, ) though this may depend on the individual's needs and the available alternatives. Although men are starting to play an important role due to shifting social gender roles, the vast majority of informal caregivers are women who increasingly attempt to juggle caring with labour force participation (Carmichael et al., )." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Jessen, Jonas, C. Katharina Spieß & Katharina Wrohlich (2021): Sorgearbeit während der Corona-Pandemie: Mütter übernehmen größeren Anteil – vor allem bei schon zuvor ungleicher Aufteilung. In: DIW-Wochenbericht, Jg. 88, H. 9, S. 131-139. DOI:10.18723/diw_wb:2021-9-1

Abstract

"Eltern haben im Zuge der ersten coronabedingten Kita- und Schulschließungen einen Großteil der Bildungs- und Betreuungsarbeit übernommen. Vielfach wurde in der Öffentlichkeit diskutiert, inwiefern die Corona-Pandemie die Aufteilung von Sorge- und Erwerbsarbeit zwischen Müttern und Vätern verändert hat. Eine Auswertung neuer pairfam-Daten zeigt ein differenziertes Bild: Einerseits hat sich der Anteil der Paare, die sich Kinderbetreuung und Hausarbeit egalitär aufteilen, nicht signifikant verändert. Andererseits ist bei Paaren, bei denen die Frauen bereits vor der Pandemie den überwiegenden Teil der Sorgearbeit übernommen haben, das Ungleichgewicht in der Pandemie noch größer geworden. Im Frühjahr und Sommer 2020 haben Frauen in rund 16 Prozent und damit im Vorjahresvergleich in etwa doppelt so vielen Familien (fast) vollständig die Kinderbetreuung übernommen. Wenn Mütter im Homeoffice arbeiten, erledigen sie auch mehr Sorgearbeit, während dies bei Vätern nicht der Fall ist. Die Aufteilung der Sorgearbeit wird dabei von Müttern und Vätern sehr unterschiedlich wahrgenommen. Die Politik sollte aus einer gleichstellungspolitischen Perspektive bei neuen familienbezogenen Leistungen die ungleiche Verteilung der Sorgearbeit stärker in den Blick nehmen. Helfen könnten beispielsweise finanzielle Anreize für eine gleichmäßigere Aufteilung der Elternzeit." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Magda, Iga & Katarzyna Lipowska (2021): Flexibility of Working Time Arrangements and Female Labor Market Outcome. (IZA discussion paper 14812), Bonn, 18 S.

Abstract

"We use data from the 2019 EU Labor Force Survey to study gender and parenthood gaps in two dimensions of flexibility in working time arrangements in 25 European countries. We find that overall in Europe, there is no statistically significant gender difference in access to flexible work arrangements. However, women are less likely than men to have flexible working hours in the Central-Eastern and Southern European countries, whereas this gender gap is reversed in Continental Europe. At the same time, women are less likely than men to face demands from their employers that they work flexible hours. We also find that both mothers and fathers are more likely than their childless colleagues to have access to flexible working hours, but that fathers' workplaces are more likely than mothers' workplaces to demand temporal flexibility from employees. In addition, we find that working in a female-dominated occupation decreases the probability of having access to flexible work arrangements, and that this effect is stronger for women than for men. At the same time, we observe that both men and women who work in female-dominated occupations are less exposed to flexibility demands from employers than their counterparts who work in male-dominated or gender-neutral occupations. Finally, we find that compared to employers in other Europeans countries, employers in the Central and Eastern European countries are less likely to offer flexible working hours, especially to women, and with no additional flexibility being offered to parents; whereas employers in Continental and Nordic countries are more likely to offer flexible work arrangements, and with no gender gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Matteazzi, Eleonora & Stefani Scherer (2021): Gender Wage Gap and the Involvement of Partners in Household Work. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 35, H. 3, S. 490-508. DOI:10.1177/0950017020937936

Abstract

"Women still earn less than men and continue to perform the bulk of domestic activities. Several studies documented a negative individual wage-housework relation, suggesting that gender discrepancies in housework may explain the gender wage gap. Less attention has been paid to the role of the partner’s unpaid work and to the extent that intra-household inequalities relate to inequalities outside the house. The present study attempts to fill this gap in the literature. We exploit EU-SILC 2010 data for Germany and Italy and PSID 2009 data for the US. Results suggest the importance of accounting for a partner’s housework when evaluating the determinants of individual wages and the gender wage gap. Women seem not to profit from their partners’ housework; instead, women’s non-market work increases their partners’ earnings while decreasing their own earnings. This suggests the importance of reducing women’s involvement in domestic work in order to close gender wage equalities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Medina-Garrido, José Aurelio, José María Biedma-Ferrer & Antonio Rafael Ramos-Rodríguez (2021): Moderating effects of gender and family responsibilities on the relations between work-family policies and job performance. In: The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 32, H. 5, S. 1006-1037. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2018.1505762

Abstract

"This study analyzes the impact of work-family policies (WFP) on job performance, and the possible moderating role of gender and family responsibilities. Hypothesis testing was performed using a structural equation model based on a PLS-SEM approach applied to a sample of 1511 employees of the Spanish banking sector. The results show that neither the existence nor the accessibility of the WFP has a direct, positive impact on performance, unlike what we expected, but both have an indirect effect via the well-being generated by these policies. We also find that neither gender nor family responsibilities have a significant moderating role on these relations, contrary to what we initially expected." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Murphy, Caroline & Christine Cross (2021): Blurred lines: work, eldercare and HRM. In: The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 32, H. 7, S. 1460-1485. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2018.1528470

Abstract

"Increased levels of female labour market participation have impacted on the ability of families to provide care for elderly relatives in many industrialised societies. While work - family balance has received significant academic attention, less attention has focused specifically on individuals with eldercare responsibility, a cohort which accounts for a growing segment of the labour market internationally. Taking a qualitative research approach this paper uses work/family border theory to the constraints and facilitators to reconciling care and employment for employees working full-time in Ireland. The findings highlight the significant impact that eldercare provision has on employees with regard to day-to-day work commitments. We find that while general work - life balance policies exist within organisations, that the design and functionality of such policies are of limited value to elder caregivers. Furthermore, this paper highlights how the lack of formal HR policies around eldercare within organisations results in a reliance on supervisory discretion. We make some recommendations for organisational level strategies to address the needs of a growing number of caregivers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Olsen, Karen M. (2021): Employment Trade-Offs under Different Family Policy Constellations. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 35, H. 1, S. 37-56. DOI:10.1177/0950017019892827

Abstract

"This article examines how employees consolidate the spheres of work and family in three countries with different family policy constellations: Sweden, Germany and Great Britain. The analyses are based on data from the International Social Survey Programme, 2015. Building on family policy typologies, the study demonstrates how gender and family and employment demands interact with the institutional setting regarding how people make employment trade-offs. The results show that (1) employees in Sweden make the fewest employment trade-offs, (2) family demands exert a gendered effect on employment trade-offs in Germany and (3) employment demands have both similar and distinct gender effects across countries. The article contributes to the literature by showing how individual characteristics interact with family policy constellations. The findings provide little support for a welfare-state paradox regarding family demands but some support with regard to employment demands." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Rashmi, Kumari & Aakanksha Kataria (2021): Work–life balance: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. In: The international journal of sociology and social policy, Jg. 42, H. 11/12, S. 1028-1065. DOI:10.1108/IJSSP-06-2021-0145

Abstract

"Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a clear view of current dynamics and research diversification of extant literature in the field of work-life balance (WLB). This paper provides a systematic and critical analysis of WLB literature using bibliometric analysis. Design/methodology/approach: Scopus database has been used for carrying out this review that is based on 945 research papers published from 1998 to 2020. The prominence of the research is assessed by studying the publication trend, sample statistics, theoretical foundation, the highly cited research articles and journals, most commonly used keywords, research themes of top four recognized clusters, sub-themes within each cluster and thematic overview of WLB corpus formed on the premise of bibliographic coupling. Additionally, content analysis of recently published papers revealed emerging research patterns and potential gaps. Findings: Major findings indicate that the research area consists of four established and emerging research themes based on clusters formed as (1) flexible work arrangements, (2) gender differences in WLB, (3) work–life interface and its related concepts, and (4) WLB policies and practices. Emerging themes identified through content analysis of recent articles include gender discrepancy, the impact of different forms of contextual (situational) factors and organizational culture. Originality/value: This research paper is the first of its kind on the subject of WLB as it provides multifariousness of study fields within the WLB corpus by using varied bibliographic mapping approaches. It also suggests viable avenues for future research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))

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Rodríguez-Modroño, Paula (2021): Non-standard work in unconventional workspaces: Self-employed women in home-based businesses and coworking spaces. In: Urban studies, Jg. 58, H. 11, S. 2258-2275. DOI:10.1177/00420980211007406

Abstract

"This article looks into the new production dynamics and workspaces related to urban change by examining a rising group of workers: self-employed women who have started their own businesses or freelance activities from home or coworking spaces. This empirical study applies an intersectional approach to examine the job satisfaction and work–life balance of home-based workers according to employment status, gender and generation by means of a mixed-method approach, combining the statistical analysis of a dataset of 43,850 workers from the European Working Conditions Survey with in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that work intensity, working time quality and prospects depend more on an individual being self-employed than on being home-based; however, earnings and time devoted to care work are strongly shaped by working from home. Moreover, the profiles of home-based self-employed workers were completely different by gender and age. Although millennials (i.e. those born between 1980 and 1995) differ significantly from previous generations, gender inequality also prevails among the young. Combining working at home with coworking could be a solution to offset the lack of interactions and social capital of home-based entrepreneurs and to increase their earnings." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

Der Expertisenband versammelt die Expertisen für den neunten Familienbericht "Eltern sein in Deutschland - Ansprüche, Anforderungen und Angebote bei wachsender Vielfalt". Wie auch bei vorangegangenen Berichten war der Entstehungsprozess des Berichts nicht nur von intensiven kommissionsinternen Diskussionen geprägt, es wurde auch auf Fachkenntnisse externer Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler zurückgegriffen. Die Kommission hat beschlossen, die Expertisen als Online-Publikation einer breiten Öffentlichkeit zugänglich zu machen. (IAB-Doku)

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Schmidt, Jörg & Oliver Stettes (2021): Wer macht was? Zum Einfluss von Entgeltunterschieden auf die Aufgabenteilung in Paarhaushalten. In: IW-Trends, Jg. 48, H. 1, S. 61-77. DOI:10.2373/1864-810X.21-01-04

Abstract

"Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht den Einfluss von Entgeltdifferenzen in Paarhaushalten auf das zeitliche Engagement der Partner im Beruf und im Haushalt. Bei einer geschlechterbezogenen Aufgabenteilung wird untersucht, inwieweit Frauen und Männer sich im Vergleich zu ihren Partnern zeitlich im Haushalt und Beruf engagieren. Der durchschnittliche Rückstand des Bruttostundenlohns der Frau zu dem ihres Partners liegt bei 16,3 Prozent, wenn die Aufgabenteilung eher traditionell erfolgt. Ihr Lohnvorsprung beträgt durchschnittlich 6,6 Prozent, wenn eine eher antitraditionelle Aufgabenteilung vorliegt. Eine positive Altersdifferenz zwischen dem Mann und der Frau sowie die Existenz von Kindern begünstigen ein eher traditionelles Spezialisierungsmuster. Im Rahmen einer ökonomisch motivierten Aufgabenteilung wird analysiert, inwieweit das Haushaltsmitglied mit dem höheren Bruttostundenlohn mehr Zeit im Beruf und/oder weniger Zeit im Haushalt einsetzt als das andere. Wo ein ökonomisches Kalkül dem Spezialisierungsmuster zugrunde liegt, beträgt der Verdienstrückstand der Frau gegenüber ihrem Partner durchschnittlich 25,8 Prozent. Ökonometrische Schätzungen zeigen, dass vorhandene Lohnunterschiede zwischen beiden Partnern eine ökonomisch motivierte Spezialisierung begünstigen. Da Frauen im Durchschnitt geringere Bruttostundenlöhne aufweisen als ihre Partner, geht eine ökonomisch geprägte Aufgabenteilung zugleich häufig mit einer geschlechtsbezogenen Aufgabenteilung einher. Wirtschaftliche Überlegungen eines Paares können daher ein eher traditionelles Arbeitsteilungsarrangement verfestigen, das bereits vor der Geburt des ersten Kindes getroffen wurde." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Schulz, Florian & Mareike Reimann (2021): Parents' experiences of work-family conflict. Does is matter if coworkers have children? (SocArXiv papers), 24 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/tvg7q

Abstract

"Objective: To examine how the perception of work-family conflict relates to the share of parents in women’s and men’s direct coworking environments. Background: The framework of supplementary and complementary person-team fit posits that individuals’ relative positions within their coworking environments have an impact on their wellbeing. Depending on women’s and men’s parenthood status and the corresponding (dis-)similarity compared to their colleagues, this idea was applied to the perception of work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts. Method: Time-based and strain-based work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts were analyzed by gender and parenthood with random effects panel regression models using longitudinal data from the LEEP-B3-survey, a large-scale linked employer-employee survey from Germany (2012/2013 and 2014/2015; 2,228 women and 2,656 men). The composition of the respondents’ working groups was included as a moderating interaction variable. Results: Mothers and fathers of children aged 0-11 years reported higher work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts than parents of older children and childless women and men. For mothers of children aged 0-11 years, a higher share of parents in their working groups was associated with less time-based family-to-work conflict. For fathers of children aged 0-11 years, the same associations were found for overall work-to-family conflict, strain-based work-to-family conflict as well as for all dimensions of family-to-work conflict. Conclusion: Similarity between the team members regarding parenthood seemed to reduce mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of work-family conflict beyond several other situational characteristics of the individuals and the workplaces." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Schwarze, Barbara & Lore Funk (2021): (Digital) arbeiten 2020: Chancengerecht für alle?: Teil 2: Partnerschaftliche Arbeitsteilung. Analyse einer Erwerbstätigenbefragung unter Genderaspekten. Bielefeld, 29 S.

Abstract

"Wie können Arbeitsprozesse gestaltet werden, um die Chancen, die in der Digitalisierung und – in unserem Fokus – im Homeoffice als Arbeitsort liegen, zu optimieren? Welche Folgen der Digitalisierung werden heute bereits positiv erfahren und wo sind weitere Aushandlungsprozesse und Nachbesserungen in der Umsetzung nötig? Wie könnte die Arbeitsteilung zwischen Frauen und Männern bei Erwerbs- und Reproduktionstätigkeiten so gestaltet werden, dass alle an Lebensqualität dazu gewinnen? Um ein möglichst differenziertes Bild über Rahmenbedingungen, Einstellungen und Praktiken rund um Arbeit im Jahr 2020 zu erhalten, wurden alle Personen, die aktuell in Deutschland erwerbstätig sind, aufgerufen, ihre Erfahrungen zu Homeoffice, digitaler Ausstattung, Weiterbildung und Arbeitsteilung in der Partner*innenschaft zu teilen. Mehr als 1.000 Männer und Frauen haben vom 8. bis 30 Juni 2020 an der Befragung teilgenommen. Die zweite Veröffentlichung beleuchtet ausgewählte Aspekte der Studie, die sich auf die Partnerschaftliche Teilung der Arbeit im Haushalt beziehen. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen: Das Potenzial in Form der Orientierung an einem paritätischen Ideal ist vorhanden, jedoch sind effektive Weichenstellungen noch zu selten Teil des gesellschaftlichen und betrieblichen Alltags. Chancen liegen in der Flexibilisierung der Erwerbstätigkeit – unter bestimmten Bedingungen: Transparente und verhandelbare Regeln der Arbeit im Homeoffice sind zentral." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Stenpaß, Anna (2021): Pendelmobilität und partnerschaftliche Arbeitsteilung. Eine Studie über Geschlechterungleichheiten in heterosexuellen Paarbeziehungen. (Research), Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 298 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-658-31746-1

Abstract

"Anna Stenpaß verbindet in dieser Studie quantitative und qualitative Daten, um ein umfassendes Bild von einem bisher wenig erforschten Untersuchungsfeld zu erhalten. Anhand eines Mixed-Methods Ansatzes untersucht sie den Einfluss beruflicher Pendelmobilität auf die innerpartnerschaftliche Verteilung der Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung. Sie verdeutlicht, dass eine ungleiche Verteilung dieser Arbeiten auch im Zusammenhang mit der Pendelmobilität besteht. Insbesondere weibliche Pendler tragen oftmals weiterhin die Hauptverantwortung für die Hausarbeit und Kinderbetreuung, auch wenn sie neben der Erwerbstätigkeit berufsbedingt pendeln – und stehen damit einer Dreifachbelastung gegenüber. Wohlgleich verdeutlichen die Analysen, dass sich auch Möglichkeiten 'harmonischer' Arrangements etablieren lassen. Wie die Pendler*innen mit den unbezahlten Arbeiten umgehen und welche Arrangements sie im Umgang mit diesen herstellen, hängt von einem Zusammenspiel handlungstheoretischer Aspekte, normativer Einstellungen sowie der subjektiven Wahrnehmung der Pendelmobilität und deren Nutzen und Kosten ab." (Autorenreferat, © 2020 Springer)

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Sánchez-Domínguez, María & Luis Guirola Abenza (2021): The double penalty: How female migrants manage family responsibilities in the Spanish dual labour market. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 33, H. 2, S. 509-540. DOI:10.20377/jfr-497

Abstract

"Objective: This study examines the convergence of employment behaviour and work-life balance of foreign-born women with those of native-born Spanish women between 2014 and 2018. Background: The changing role of women in the labour market is a central development of the past century. However, the study of female labour market participation has focused on native women, typically with a college education. Method: We use the Spanish Labour Force Survey and its 2018 ad hoc module on the reconciliation of work and family life to compare the working behaviours of native and migrant women. We use a matching algorithm to construct a sample of native workers with comparable human capital and living arrangement characteristics. Results: The segmentation of the Spanish labour market leads to the concentration of female immigrants in specific occupational niches with precarious employment conditions, regardless of the length of their stay in the country. The country's employment and care regime forces female migrants to deal with their care responsibilities differently than their native counterparts: i.e., migrants are more likely than natives to interrupt their employment to fulfil household duties, and are less likely to engage in part-time work and to outsource care provision to family and professional caregivers. Conclusion: Female immigrants are doubly penalised as both immigrants and mothers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Walter, Johanna & Verena C. Haun (2021): Positive and negative work reflection, engagement and exhaustion in dual-earner couples: Exploring living with children and work-linkage as moderators. In: German Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 35, H. 2, S. 249-273. DOI:10.1177/2397002220964930

Abstract

"Many employees think about their work during off-job time. Scholars have suggested that whether work-related thoughts during off-job time have detrimental or beneficial effects on employees’ well-being and performance depends on the nature of these thoughts. In this study with dual-earner couples we examined whether employees’ positive and negative work reflection during off-job time are associated with their own and with their partners’ work engagement and exhaustion. Furthermore, we investigated whether (a) living with children and (b) being work-linked (i.e. working in the same organisation and/or working in the same profession) moderated these relations. Both partners of 130 German heterosexual dual-earner couples responded to online questionnaires. We estimated multilevel analyses using the actor–partner interdependence model to analyse our dyadic data. We found positive associations between employees’ positive work reflection and both their own and their partners’ work engagement. Employees’ positive work reflection was also associated with their decreased exhaustion. Employees’ negative work reflection was negatively associated with their own work engagement and positively associated with their own exhaustion but unrelated to their partners’ outcomes. Moderator analyses revealed that living with children weakened the link between employees’ positive work reflection and their own work engagement and strengthened the link between their negative work reflection and exhaustion. The presence of couples’ work-linkage did not moderate any of these relations. This study builds on previous research by showing that employees’ positive work-related thinking is not only beneficial to themselves but also to their partners. Furthermore, the results suggest that living with children constitutes an additional demand that reduces the motivational effects of positive work reflection and amplifies the detrimental effects of employees’ negative work reflection." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Zoch, Gundula, Ann-Christin Bächmann & Basha Vicari (2021): Who cares when care closes? Care-arrangements and parental working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. In: European Societies, Jg. 23, H. sup1, S. S576-S588., 2020-10-01. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2020.1832700

Abstract

"This study examines the short-term consequences for care-arrangements among working parents, who were affected by the closure of schools and institutional childcare as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. By applying multinomial logistic regression models to novel data from two panel surveys of the National Educational Panel Study and its supplementary COVID-19 web survey, the study finds that mothers continue to play a key role in the care-arrangements during the first months of the pandemic. Moreover, the results illustrate the importance of working conditions, especially the possibility of remote work for the altered care-arrangements. Overall, the findings point towards systematic gender differences in the relationship between parental working conditions and the care-arrangements." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Zoch, Gundula, Ann-Christin Bächmann & Basha Vicari (2021): Gender Differences in Reduced Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic – the Role of Working Conditions. (IAB-Discussion Paper 04/2021), Nürnberg, 45 S.

Abstract

"Die Covid-19-Pandemie hat sich sehr unterschiedlich auf die Bedingungen der Beschäftigung und der Familienarbeit von Männern und Frauen ausgewirkt. Damit könnte sie den in den letzten Jahrzehnten langsam und mühsam erreichten Abbau der geschlechtsspezifischen Ungleichheiten in der familiären Arbeitsteilung gefährden. Mit Daten des Nationalen Bildungspanels (NEPS) und der Online durchgeführten Covid-19-Zusatzbefragung für Deutschland untersuchen wir den Zusammenhang zwischen Arbeitsbedingungen und Geschlechterunterschieden im subjektiven Wohlbefinden während der ersten Monate der Pandemie. Dabei berücksichtigen wir systematisch den Haushaltskontext, indem wir zwischen Erwachsenen mit und ohne kleine Kinder unterscheiden. Die Ergebnisse aus multivariaten Regressionsmodellen, die die Zufriedenheit vor der Pandemie berücksichtigen, zeigen einen Rückgang der Lebenszufriedenheit bei allen Befragten, insbesondere bei Frauen und Müttern mit kleinen Kindern. Der stärkere Rückgang des Wohlbefindens von Frauen kann jedoch nicht mit systematischen Unterschieden in den Arbeitsbedingungen während der Pandemie in Verbindung gebracht werden. Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder kontrafaktische Dekompositionen bestätigen diesen Befund. Weitere Robustness-Checks deuten darauf hin, dass die verbleibenden geschlechtsspezifischen Unterschiede in den ersten Monaten der Krise zum Teil durch gesellschaftliche Sorgen und größere Einsamkeit der Frauen erklärt werden. Allgemein betrachtet deuten unsere Ergebnisse auf wichtige geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede im sozialen Leben und in der psychischen Belastung im Frühjahr 2020 hin, die sich im weiteren Verlauf der Krise wahrscheinlich noch verstärken werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Zucco, Aline & Yvonne Lott (2021): Stand der Gleichstellung: Ein Jahr mit Corona. (WSI-Report 64), Düsseldorf, 27 S.

Abstract

"Die Corona-Krise schränkt das soziale und wirtschaftliche Leben in Deutschland stark ein. Neben dem Anstieg von Kurzarbeit waren und sind viele Beschäftigte aufgrund der eingeschränkten institutionellen Kinderbetreuung gezwungen, ihre Arbeitszeit zu verkürzen oder Kinderbetreuung im Homeoffice zu leisten. Da vor allem Frauen bereits vor der Krise den Löwenanteil an Sorgearbeit übernahmen, geht der vorliegende Report der folgenden Frage nach: Wie hat sich die Krise auf die Geschlechterungleichheit ausgewirkt? Dabei wird die Entwicklung des Gender Pay Gap, Gender Time Gap und Gender Care Gap in den Blick genommen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Žnidaršič, Jasmina & Mojca Bernik (2021): Impact of work-family balance results on employee work engagement within the organization: The case of Slovenia. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 16, H. 1. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0245078

Abstract

"Background and purpose Organizations strive to increase the work engagement of their employees, as engaged employees are more productive employees, but often neglect the significant effects of work-family balance on work engagement. Numerous studies confirm the importance of work-family balance and work engagement, but there is lack of research that explores the relationship between the concepts. Our research fills a research gap in investigating the impact of work-family balance on work engagement, both directly and through individual perceptions of organizational support for work-family balance. The main aim of our research is to empirically test the relationships between the policies and practices of organizations regarding work-family balance, work-life balance and work engagement. Methods Using validated questionnaires, we collected data on organizational support for work-family balance (family-friendly policies and practices, support by leader, support by co-workers, working hours and complexity of work), work-family balance and work engagement. The quantitative data for our analysis was collected through a survey of 343 online participants who were employees in various positions in companies in Slovenia. The results Our results show that the organization's work-family balance policies and practices, such as support by leader, co-workers, and family-friendly policies and practices, have a positive impact on the individual's work-family balance, that work-family balance leads to an increase in work engagement, and that the individual's perception of the organization's work-family balance support leads to an increase in work engagement. Conclusion Knowledge of important work-family balance implications with an understanding of organizational support for work-family balance and the relationships between the constructs of work-family balance and work engagement can be beneficial to business leaders. This understanding can help them to strengthen employee work engagement through family-friendly policies and practices, and thereby contributing to the area of employee behavior and improving employee productivity." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

"Der hier vorliegende Neunte Familienbericht ist in einer Zeit intensiver familien- und gesellschaftspolitischer Diskurse und Initiativen entstanden, die unter dem Eindruck vielfältiger Aspekte sozialen Wandels, nach wie vor ungelöster gesellschaftlicher Herausforderungen und markanter Ereignisse stehen. Die Endphase seiner Fertigstellung fiel zusammen mit der Covid-19-Pandemie, die ab März 2020 eine der größten Krisen seit der Wirtschaftskrise vor mehr als zehn Jahren auslöste. Der teilweise lange anhaltende Lockdown zur Abwehr einer übergroßen Ausbreitung des Virus und damit einer Überforderung des Gesundheitssystems hat auch in Deutschland weite Bereiche der Wirtschaft zum Stillstand gebracht, und viele Familien sahen sich in der Betreuung und Beschulung der Kinder auf sich selbst gestellt. Dies hat einzelne Themen noch stärker in den Vordergrund gerückt, als es bei der Konzeption dieses Berichts und der Hauptphase seiner Erarbeitung absehbar war. Fragen der wirtschaftlichen Stabilität, die gelebten Erwerbsmodelle und die damit verbundenen Risiken haben an zentraler Bedeutung gewonnen, ebenso wie Fragen ungleicher Bildungschancen, die durch den zeitweisen Ausfall institutioneller Bildung und Betreuung entscheidend akzentuiert wurden. Bereits vor der Corona-Pandemie mussten viele Familien mit einem kleinen Einkommen wirtschaften und sahen ihre Teilhabechancen, vor allem aber auch die Bildungschancen ihrer Kinder beschränkt. Trotz massiver Bemühungen, das Bildungssystem zu reformieren und der in Deutschland starken „sozialen Vererbung“ von Bildungsressourcen entgegenzuwirken und trotz starker Initiativen zur Entwicklung eines inklusiven Bildungssystems, fallen die Bildungserfolge von Kindern und Jugendlichen je nach sozialer Herkunft und je nach individuellen Beeinträchtigungen noch immer sehr unterschiedlich aus. Darüber hinaus wird im Bereich der Bildungspolitik auf die nach wie vor schwächeren Bildungschancen von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund hingewiesen. Schon seit der Anwerbung von Arbeitsmigrantinnen und -migranten in den 1950er-Jahren steht die Diskussion über eine geeignete Integrationspolitik im Raum, die in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten und insbesondere durch die intensive Zuwanderung von Geflüchteten seit 2015 deutlich an Intensität gewonnen hat. Dabei wird zunehmend deutlich, dass sich Integrationsbemühungen auch an Eltern richten müssen und von einer stärkeren Familienorientierung diesbezüglicher Regelungen und Maßnahmen profitieren können. Parallel hierzu hat sich durch die Digitalisierung aller Lebensbereiche das Zusammenleben merklich verändert. Neue Kommunikationstechnologien erleichtern den Austausch im privaten Kreis und in erweiterten sozialen Netzen, helfen bei der raschen Informationssuche, und prägen auch zunehmend die Lern- und Arbeitsbedingungen in Schule, Ausbildung, Studium und Beruf. Gleichzeitig sind neue Anforderungen an Medienkompetenzen entstanden, mit denen alle Nutzenden und vor allem Eltern in ihrer Verantwortung für Kinder und Jugendliche konfrontiert sind. Nicht nur an dieser Stelle wachsen Kita und Schule neue Aufgaben zu, um Kinder und Jugendliche zum kompetenten Umgang mit Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien in der digitalisierten Gesellschaft zu befähigen, sondern auch Eltern Information und Orientierung zu bieten." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

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Arpino, Bruno & Francesca Luppi (2020): Childcare arrangements and working mothers’ satisfaction with work‒family balance. In: Demographic Research, Jg. 42, S. 549-588. DOI:10.4054/DemRes.2020.42.19

Abstract

"Background: Difficulties with work‒family reconciliation contribute to explaining the low participation of women in the labour market and low fertility levels in several developed countries. Understanding how much different types of childcare can help mothers to balance family and work is crucial for implementing ad hoc policies. Objective: This study examines whether working mothers’ satisfaction with work‒family balance is associated with different combinations of paid and unpaid childcare arrangements. Difficulties in using different types of childcare are also considered. Methods: We use random effects models on panel data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey (2003‒2013). Results: Results show that a balanced mix of paid and unpaid childcare is associated with mothers’ highest satisfaction. Difficulties related to the affordability and the flexibility of paid childcare negatively relate to the satisfaction with work‒family balance. Moreover, even after adjusting for experienced difficulties, the “mixed” arrangement guarantees the most satisfying combination of work and family responsibilities. Contribution: Taken together, our analyses are suggestive of the idea that improving the flexibility and the affordability of paid childcare services is a way to increase mothers’ satisfaction with the work‒family balance. The issue might become even more urgent if we consider that grandparents’ availability is not so obvious in a context where young people work and live at long distance from their original family, and when age at first (grand)parenthood is increasing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Max-Planck-Institut für demographische Forschung) ((en))

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Bergsvik, Janna, Ragni Hege Kitterød & Kenneth Aarskaug Wiik (2020): Parenthood and Couples' Relative Earnings in Norway. In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 36, H. 2, S. 218-235. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcz062

Abstract

"With the advance of the gender revolution, income dynamics in couples are changing. Nonetheless, in most Western societies, parenthood still promotes specialized gender roles. Utilizing Norwegian register data on all married and cohabiting couples born 1946–1989, we investigate possible changes in the associations between parenthood and within-couple inequality in earnings in the years 2005–2014. Precisely, using interactions and fixed effects models, we compare the development of within-couple gender gaps in earnings over time between childless couples and couples with children of different ages, and within couples before and after childbirth. Results showed that the gender gap in earnings in couples increased with the number of children and was most distinct among couples with children below 6 years. However, the association between parenthood and within-couple inequality in earnings was reduced across the study period, a development partly driven by a decreasing fatherhood premium evident from 2009 onwards. Not only women's but also men's income development is now negatively affected by having young children in the household. Our findings, thus, indicate important changes in how men and women prioritize paid labour after a childbirth." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Buchanan, Tom, Anupam Das & Adian McFarlane (2020): Gender differences in within-couple influences on work-family balance satisfaction. When benefits become threats. In: Journal of family studies, Jg. 26, H. 1, S. 106-125. DOI:10.1080/13229400.2017.1335225

Abstract

"Using the 2010 General Social Survey in Time Use (Canadian time diary data, N?=?1785), we explore the impact of spouses' time spent on childcare and other work-family factors on parents' work-family balance satisfaction. We examine how benefits compare to threats to parenting time and the relative impact on satisfaction with work-family balance. Our findings indicate that benefits to parenting time (working regular shift, fewer hours, and flextime) increase work-family balance. Threats to parenting (hiring of childcare, spouse's household labour), which should benefit work-family balance, decrease satisfaction. We find mothers' satisfaction with work-family balance is unaffected by increased childcare time spent by fathers. In contrast, mothers' increased childcare time is associated with lower satisfaction with work-family balance for fathers. We argue Canadian fathers may be feeling increased cultural pressure to participate more fully in parenting. Fathers potentially perceive mothers' predominant parenting as a threat to new expectations while mothers perceive fathers' new expectations as a benefit. Alternatively, fathers may feel neglected as a result of mothers' focus on parenting." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Carlson, Matthew W. & Jason D. Hans (2020): Maximizing benefits and minimizing impacts: Dual-earner couples' perceived division of household labor decision-making process. In: Journal of family studies, Jg. 26, H. 2, S. 208-225. DOI:10.1080/13229400.2017.1367712

Abstract

"Researchers have thoroughly documented the various factors that influence couples' division of household labor. Although numerous approaches have been taken to explain these factors that influence the division of household labor, perceptions of the decision-making process of dividing household labor within a marriage is seldom considered and is therefore the focus of this study. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 heterosexual, dual-earner couples. Data were analyzed with grounded theory methodology. Findings included that couples viewed themselves as first attempting to divide household labor in ways that they perceived as being the most beneficial for them as a couple. When issues arose with a particular task or arrangement, or with the division of labor more generally, they made adjustments intended to minimize the negative impact of those issues. Findings are contextualized within the major theories surrounding quantitative data on household labor (i.e. time availability, relative resources, and gender ideology perspectives). Implications for family researchers, educators, and practitioners are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))