Gender Issues

Since the revolution, French women have become recognized as assets at their jobs. However, traditional social norms, pay gaps, and leave policies differing between men and women keep the gender divide present. Although the work realm appears to be helping lessen gender inequality, the division of labor at home still falls on a traditional model- making the household upkeep and childcare obligations more intensive for women than men. 

Although France has taken strides towards gender equality, many social issues still hamper women’s ability to live a balanced life. The easiest place to see the gender divide is with unpaid work. Women are still burdened with expectations of motherhood and household duties, while men are still considered as the breadwinner. In particular, gender norms effect married women with children and a full time job the most. Women in studies have expressed the hardship present in managing full-time employment while also managing the duties of being a mother and taking care of the home.  

France’s strong religious roots and the country’s focus on the “family rather than the individual” both largely contribute to gender inequality present in family dynamics. With the accepted norm that male’s priority still is paid work, it leaves the woman’s role within the family to be largely affected by the time required by her children. This obligation on top of the norm of holding a full-time job does not leave women with much leisure time, especially when comparing their free time to the average man’s amount of free time.

One thing that has helped women lessen the burden of juggling family and work life are the childcare options available for children. Beginning in the 1960’s and from then on, childcare options in France have actually become plentiful and have most children by age 3 enrolled in a preschool. France has developed many different child-care options to increase “parental choice” in public and private care spheres. Although the primary caregiver role within the nuclear family is still most commonly women, these school options have become practical and acceptable practices to relieve some burden placed on women to fully raise children in the first six years of life.

References:
Windebank, Jan. 2001. "Dual-Earner Couples in Britain and France: Gender Divisions of Domestic Labour and Parenting Work in
    Different Welfare States." Work, Employment and Society 15(2):269-290.
Baldock, John and Jan Hadlow. 2004. "Managing the Family: Productivity, Scheduling and the Male Veto." Social Policy and
    Administration 38(6):706-720.