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Work–Family Arrangement and Conflict: Do Individual Gender Role Attitudes and National Gender Culture Matter?

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  • Christina Bornatici

    (FORS—Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Marieke Heers

    (FORS—Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between couples’ work–family arrangement and individuals’ perceived work–family conflict (WFC), considering individuals’ attitudes towards gender roles and national gender culture in 37 countries (N = 15,114). Previous research has shown that WFC depends on work and family demands and has mostly accounted for absolute time spent in paid and domestic work. We hypothesize that WFC depends on couples’ work–family arrangement in terms of time spent in paid, domestic and care work. We further expect that the relationship between couples’ work–family arrangement and WFC depends on individuals’ gender attitudes and national gender culture. To test these assumptions, we use the ISSP-2012 data and apply multilevel linear regression analyses. The findings indicate that an egalitarian work–family arrangement—that is, sharing paid, domestic and care work equally with one’s partner—is associated with lower levels of WFC. Moreover, individuals with egalitarian gender attitudes and an egalitarian work–family arrangement experience less WFC than individuals with inconsistent attitudes and behaviours. Individuals with consistent traditional attitudes and behaviours experience the most conflict. Finally, a more egalitarian gender culture relates to less WFC. Cross-level interactions indicate that the relationship between work–family arrangement and WFC is not mediated by countries’ gender culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Bornatici & Marieke Heers, 2020. "Work–Family Arrangement and Conflict: Do Individual Gender Role Attitudes and National Gender Culture Matter?," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 46-60.
  • Handle: RePEc:cog:socinc:v8:y:2020:i:4:p:46-60
    DOI: 10.17645/si.v8i4.2967
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nadia Steiber, 2009. "Reported Levels of Time-based and Strain-based Conflict Between Work and Family Roles in Europe: A Multilevel Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 469-488, September.
    2. Natascha Notten & Daniela Grunow & Ellen Verbakel, 2017. "Social Policies and Families in Stress: Gender and Educational Differences in Work–Family Conflict from a European Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(3), pages 1281-1305, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alenka Švab & Tanja Oblak Črnič, 2023. "Gender Differences in Epidemic Everyday Scenarios: An Exploratory Study of Family Life in Slovenia," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 11(1), pages 324-336.

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