Final Report Summary - GENDER INEQUALITIES (Gender inequalities in the home: social structures, identities, and the division of family labour)
This research drew on identity theory to explore gender inequalities in the division of family labour. To overcome existing disciplinary divides, it provided a conceptual and empirical formulation of identities as a route through which the sociological and psychological traditions can be connected. Shifting the focus from the surface level of belief systems to the deeper meanings individuals apply to the self in a social role, this research advanced the claim that identities are shaped, in part, by one's location in the social structure, and that these identities have consequences for the division of family labour. These hypotheses were examined in a parallel mixed-methods design. A sample of 150 couples (n = 300) completed extensive questionnaires and complementary in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 of the couples (n = 40).
The findings were in line with the identity-behaviour link delineated by the theory. In particular, the salience and centrality of spouses' parental identities were positively related to mothers' and fathers' behavioural choices regarding the allocation of responsibilities and time investment in work and family labour. Moreover, and also as hypothesised, work hours mediated the negative relationships between the centrality of work identities and time invested in family labour, and gender moderated these effects. Finally, maternal identity salience was negatively related to fathers' hours of childcare and share of childcare tasks. These findings shed light on the role of parental identities in guiding behavioural choices, and attest to the importance of distinguishing between identity salience and centrality as two components of self-structure. By overcoming disciplinary and methodological divides, this research constitutes an important step forward and has significant implications for the development of effective interventions to promote change towards greater equality in families.
The findings were in line with the identity-behaviour link delineated by the theory. In particular, the salience and centrality of spouses' parental identities were positively related to mothers' and fathers' behavioural choices regarding the allocation of responsibilities and time investment in work and family labour. Moreover, and also as hypothesised, work hours mediated the negative relationships between the centrality of work identities and time invested in family labour, and gender moderated these effects. Finally, maternal identity salience was negatively related to fathers' hours of childcare and share of childcare tasks. These findings shed light on the role of parental identities in guiding behavioural choices, and attest to the importance of distinguishing between identity salience and centrality as two components of self-structure. By overcoming disciplinary and methodological divides, this research constitutes an important step forward and has significant implications for the development of effective interventions to promote change towards greater equality in families.