Gendered Division of Time
In spite of their increased incorporation into the workforce, women do not abandon housework or relinquish responsibilities for the care of others because they value it. Neither the male sector of the population, nor the public sector of the economy, has accepted the need for a more equal distribution of domestic and caring tasks. As a result, women are forced to work a double shift. Although men’s time dedicated to housework and caring for the children is increasing, it is still far behind that of women.
- The proportion of male to female contributions toward domestic work signifies that a woman's participation in the paid labor does not impact the gender balance of time spent on work at home.
- While there is a decrease in housework, this decrease is most significant among women in professional positions.
- Women who lost their partner through divorce actually gained time because of a reduction of domestic work for women.
- Women must perform negotiations in order to balance work and family tasks. Several solutions that women have employed in order to enter the labor market are technological developments and multi-tasking. These solutions have worked to reduce the time housework takes and helped to reconcile the time between home and work.
- Recent behavioral and cultural changes by women have not been reciprocated by men. In other words, while women have joined the labor market, men have done little to help with the work at home. Experience and history indicate that it is unlikely that men will willingly accept their share of the responsibility. Despite the increase of time men spend on domestic work, the rate of this increase is extremely small.
- Unpaid labor done by men remains segmented, basically increasing in child care and shopping. Women still perform traditionally feminine tasks such as ironing and sewing.
Factors that Determine which Women Work
Because only those women who work outside the home have to negotiate between work responsibilities and family concerns, it is important to look at which types of women find themselves in this situation. The following list provides a look at some factors that determine which women are likely to be employed in labor markets.
- Religion: The majority of people in Spain practice Catholicism which stresses the importance of the importance of the home and the family. Church-influenced laws and institutions dictated female domesticity, upheld feminine ideals of self-denial, and limited educational development. Consequently, women who practiced Catholicism tended to stay home with their children, and refrain from entering the work force.
- Social Class: Women in lower social classes are more likely to be employed in the labor market because they more prone to need a second income to survive or obtain a more comfortable living situation.
- Availability of Childcare Services: Because childcare is not guaranteed for children under age six, women with young children are unable to work unless they can come up with private solutions.
- Level of Education: Younger cohorts are more likely to be educated and become employed in the paid sphere.
- Marital Status: The significant increase in married women's activity rate in the labor market does not result from already married women joining the labor force, but rather, it is a result of single women not leaving their jobs when they get married.
- Maternal and Paternal Leave Policies: Without the help of maternal and paternal leave policies, women are often forced to return to work shortly after childbirth in order to help support their family. Conversely, other women are forced to leave labor markets because they aren't allowed anytime off for childbirth.
