Parenthood and Gender Gap in Leisure: A Cross-National Time Use Comparison

Anna Martinez Mendiola , Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Clara Cortina, Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Research on gender inequality has amply assessed the paid work, house work and childcare gaps existing among men and women in current families. Cross-national studies have shown how institutional contexts interfere on family organizations and explain differences on time constraints. Yet, research on gender inequality in the use of time for leisure activities has been less prevalent, and the search for cross-national differences on gendered leisure patterns has almost been omitted. This study aims to broad the knowledge about gender inequalities among mothers and fathers with under-aged children by analysing differences on leisure time patterns. The main contribution of our study is that we analyse gender differences in European countries adopting a couple perspective as we are able to analyse simultaneously the time use of both partners and address gender differences within the couple. The institutional context is introduced by comparing countries that represent different gender cultures and different levels of diffusion of the dual-earner dual-career family model. The quantity, quality and “with whom” leisure time is enjoyed is analysed, while family organization, couple’s socio-demographic characteristics and country of origin is taken into account. This study uses the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS) for four countries (Finland, Spain, France and UK).

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 Presented in Session 102. Parenthood and Paid/Unpaid Work