Chapter 12 - Integrating Gender-Related Issues into Research on Work and Family

Abstract

Work and family are two domains that have long had gender-related connotations, with men being more likely to be involved in business and women in domestic pursuits in most parts of the world. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role that gender plays in the work–family (WF) interface. Every day of their lives, people's gender influences the manner in which they are expected to behave, the way that they are perceived and evaluated by others, the kinds of roles that they take on, and the possibilities that are available to them. This chapter reviews the research that is carried out on the intersection of gender with the WF interface and offers suggestions for integrating gender related issues into WF research. It begins by defining the construct of gender and identifying problems with the manner in which gender is studied in the work–family literature. This includes research that is atheoretical in nature, that uses sex as a proxy for different aspects of gender, and that examines only mean differences rather than relationships among variables. It reviews and critiques studies on the differences between men and women on work–family conflict. Following this, it examines the relationship between work–family conflict and other aspects of gender. Finally, It suggests a number of ways that research in this area could be improved.