nrc.nl
Partner Gender Impacts Work Hours: Dutch Study Challenges Gender Role Assumptions
A Dutch study of nearly 5,000 individuals who lived with both men and women reveals that both men and women work more hours when their partner is a woman than when their partner is a man, highlighting the influence of societal gender roles and partner dynamics on work-life balance.
Dutch
Netherlands
Cbs (Netherlands Bureau For Statistics)Universiteit Utrecht
Eva JaspersDeni MazrekajWeverthon Machado
- What are the underlying societal pressures that contribute to gender-based specialization of labor in heterosexual relationships?
- The study, published in the American Sociological Review and downloaded 32,000 times, analyzed data from almost 5,000 Dutch individuals who cohabitated with both men and women. Results show that societal expectations and partner influence significantly impact work hour distribution between genders.
- How do societal expectations and partner gender influence work-hour distribution in heterosexual couples compared to same-sex couples?
- In same-sex relationships, both men and women work more hours compared to when partnered with the opposite sex. This challenges the notion that individual preferences solely determine work-life balance.
- What are the long-term implications of these findings for gender equality and work-life balance in the Netherlands and other similar societies?
- This research suggests that societal gender roles significantly influence work-life choices, even in relationships with individuals who may challenge traditional gender norms. Further research should explore the long-term effects of these societal pressures on individual well-being and economic equality.