|
Gender Differences and Similarities in the Work-family Interface: The Importance of Considering Family Life Stages
|
|
|
|
 |
| Title | Gender Differences and Similarities in the Work-family Interface: The Importance of Considering Family Life Stages |
| Document Type | Dissertation |
| Keywords | work-family, work-family interface, life stages, gender and life stages, life cycles, life course |
| Abstract | This study focuses on the importance of considering the interaction between gender and family life stages to properly understand gender similarities and differences in the work and family interface. Data for this study come from the IBM 2004 Global Work and Life Issues Survey representing 79 countries (N=41,813). This study is a first step toward a better understanding of similarities and differences among male and female workers across the life course and it shows that work, family and life outcomes are similar across groups, independent of life stages or gender. Six family life stage groups were created: no children and workers age 35 or less, transition to parenthood, preschool children, elementary children, teenagers, and empty nest (workers age 50 years or older and no children dependent). The findings indicate that gender differences increase when young children are present. Parenthood creates or maintains a more gendered family and work life. A key characteristic of the first stage is that gender differences are smaller than in later stages. In the transition to parenthood stage, gender differences increase substantially. For example, the difference in work hours increases four times from the previous life stage and males experience substantially more work-to-family conflict than females. The preschool stage is the stage in which gender differences in work hours and work-to-family conflict reach their highest point. In the elementary children stage, gender differences in work hours and work-to-family conflict decrease to a level very similar to the transition to parenthood stage. In the teenager children stage, differences in work-to-family conflict decrease to levels similar to the first life stage and differences in access-use of work-family programs decrease to levels similar to the transition to parenthood stages. Finally, in the empty nest stage gender differences are small and some are unique to this stage. Future research could benefit from exploring how the fit of the model may change with the addition of other important work-family variables that were not adequately measured in this study because the data were collected in a corporate setting. Employers could benefit from applying these research findings to the development of work policies and programs attentive to shifts in work-family linkages over the life course. |
| Author | Martinengo, Giuseppe 1964- |
| Department | Marriage, Family, and Human Development |
| Date Submitted | 2007-10-26 |
| Format | application:pdf |
| URL | http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd2123.pdf |
| Language | english |
| Copyright Statement | I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, and specifically allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Brigham Young University and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation, or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
| Display Title | Gender Differences and Similarities in the Work-family Interface: The Importance of Considering Family Life Stages |
| Defense Date | 2007-07-10 |
| Rights | ; p ©2002 Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. p The information available on this site, including any text, computer codes, data, artwork, video, audio, images or graphics (collectively, the “Material”) may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Entities other than Brigham Young University (“BYU”) may own copyright in portions of the Material and the reproduction of some Materials may be restricted by privacy and/or publicity rights. p We encourage use of this Material for non-profit and educational purposes, such as personal research, teaching and private study. For these limited purposes, Material from this web site may be displayed and printed, and all copies must include any copyright notice originally included with the Material. p Except as provided above, or any use beyond what is allowed by fair use (Title 17, § 107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any Material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the Material. p Inquiries regarding any further use of these Materials should be addressed to the Copyright Licensing Office, 3830 HBLL, Provo, UT 84602. |
|
|
|
|
|
